#aranahe

She will go hours, even days without eating, only to gorge herself when she has an over abundance of it. Or she'll hide away food around camp or the region, though those tend to be more RDA rations or dry nuts and meats. The other's also have a similar relationship with food but since they have more help, being at HQ and other people, they've been getting more help than Tamtey has.

Surprisingly it's not So'lek or the people at the resistance that notice her relationship with food. Instead it's Ka'nat, Nefika, and Etuwa that notice first, as they're the people she interacts the most in the beginning.

Nefika sees how she buys multiple plates from Relun, the man looking over Tamtey's shoulder in concern, most of them are long lasting meals or meals that can feed multiple people. Later she has hunters telling her that they saw her portioning out the food into smaller and smaller piles, then wrapping them in leaves and clay to be stored for later.

Etuwa notices how Tamtey follows food with her eyes but never daring to ask for even a bite, or how she'll flinch when she's been "caught". When she's able to convince Tamtey to take a plate and eat she tries not to make it obvious that she notices how quickly Tamtey eats, like she's afraid it'll be taken away.

Ka'nat grows concerned, though he won't show it at the time, of how Tamtey will never touch food or drink around him, unless he orders her to. Once she sat by what could be a small banquet during a meeting with him for hours, never once looking at the plates or showing interest, he could hear her stomach growling.

The three decide that they're going to do something about it.

Etuwa goes to Itu asking him to help take Tamtey on more hunts and help the woman portion out and dry the meat so she has a better store available. He tries to complain but changes his tune when she explained why, he even goes so far as to take Tamtey gathering and give her part his kills too.

Ka'nat starts to make sure that they eat before meetings, asking to speak with her when she is at Hometree. He passes it off as wanting to keep track of her progress against the RDA and her involvement with the Aranahe camps. Slowly he stops to order her until she no longer waits for his "permission".

Nefika makes her sit and gossip with her Kitangi, she'll even drag Etuwa in, making sure she has food and drinks. She'll play the "look at you so thin, we must fatten you up" card like a pro. Cooking with her and teaching her foods that are more nutritious and can't be stored for long, this is to make sure she eats them within a day or two instead of hoarding it.

They even get the camps involved, people will make her sit and feed her small portions, adding more and more to her plate as she eats until she's eaten a full meal. Hunters will go into her stashes and make sure the food hasn't spoiled or will add to the small bundles.

Slowly Tamtey stops hoarding and gorging herself, she starts to take actual breaks to eat and actually enjoy her meals. Her stashes dwindle, though never fully disappear. And she starts to share more off her plate then eat it in fear of it being "stolen". Soon she starts contributing more of her food to the camps and Hometree rather then hiding it.

When she goes back to HQ So'lek now makes sure she's eating real food, three times a day, and he doesn't hide the reason either. Because of course he'd got informed by the trio of how toxic and damaging Tamtey's relationship with food had gotten and realizing that, if not for the others still being at HQ, how much more damaging their own relationships with food could have become.

"You are free now Sarentu, no longer will you be starved by those who stole you, nor will I stand by and let you to be starved because of the scars of their abuse."

And the look hed given Alma when the trio informed him could only have been described as soul scorching; riping her a new one when no one was around.

So’lek by some sort of miracle had been next to you almost every moment of the day. Though he didn’t speak. Not since he had rushed out of the tent many moons ago. He was so…guarded. Like an invisible wall was plastered in between the two of you.

He knew your routine. When you were hungry, when you needed to eat those disgusting herbs and when to get Minang to aid in atreating the bruised sweltered wound on your leg.

He had fetched the pod fruit for Nefika a couple days after you had settled into your routines. At least she couldn’t scold you for delaying the progression of her dyes. Thank Eywa for So’lek.

The tent flap opened softly, So’lek stepping through, and shutting it curtly behind him. He didn’t say a word, just as you expected. He held a large green leaf in his hand, holding small pieces of meat and fruit to indulge in for the morning.

Slowly, you shuffled up in your bed. Inching with your arms, to push yourself up to rest on your uninjured leg. It was a painstakingly slow process, that most definitely looked pitiful to So’lek. So maybe that’s why he didn’t look at all? He just stared at the floor turning away from you. The same way a child did when they were scolded by their mother, unable to face the consequences of their actions.

It didn’t click for you though. His avoidance, his guarded stare it just made you feel like a burden. As if So’lek was…furious that you had been so reckless. That he felt the need be responsible for your healing and that he resented that fact completely.

Looking up at him to try and meet his solemn eyes you squeaked out a mellow greeting. “Good morning.”

“Morning”. The silence grew awkwardly, you let out a small cough to try and mend the tension in the sweet morning air.

So’lek crouched down next to you, stretching out his arms to hand you the meal. His hands shook slightly, it was odd for a warrior of his stature, to shake in the presence of such a pathetic excuse of a grown woman.

Taking the food, you placed it on the floor in front of you so could use one hand to hold your weight up, absolving your leg of it’s responsibility.

“Where is yours? Have you eaten?” You were sure he hadn’t, it was so early that he must’ve woken before the sun rose to prepare your meal.’

“No. Not yet.” He hummed softly still avoiding your gaze as if your eyes would turn him into stone.

You frowned, your bottom lip poking out. “You must eat.”

So’lek just shook his head as he pushed your food closer to you “I am not wounded.”

You sucked your teeth, rolling your eyes. “No way, I haven’t noticed.”

So’lek grunted as he crossed his arms, adjusting so he sat slightly closer to you. “Just eat. Don’t make me feed you.”

No longer protesting you ate the rest of your meal in silence. So’lek loomed over you like a hawk, his presence warm even though he was still so cold towards you.

He waited until you swallowed the last bite of your food before he moved from his almost predator like position, still and watchful. He reached for the leaf in front of you folding it neatly. He was attentive, too attentive. Always making sure that the space you inhabited was clean, that you were clean and taken care of.

He watched as you tried to adjust “There’s no need to rush” He said quietly. “I will help you”

“Why would I rush? I have nowhere to be.” You gestured to you leg laying stiff on the mat.

He paused, almost remorsefully. His jaw tightened, placing the folded leaf into a pocket of his vest. “You will.” He replied “Soon.”

The word echoed.

Soon.

An empty promise, you weren’t going anywhere. Anytime soon. Not when this lug of a limb held you down. You shifted, trying to adjust your position, but you were quickly shut down as a pain sharp enough to steal your breath flared throughout your entire limb. You bit down hard, refusing to make a sound.

Within these weeks you learned quickly that every sound you made, every facial twitch drew his attention to you. Despite your efforts he noticed anyway.

“So’lek.” You interrupted him before he could move. “Don’t”

He froze.

“I- I can do it,” you insisted, even when the slight tremor in your arms betrayed your determination. “I won’t break apart if you look away for a moment.”

“You are wounded.” He said, guilt laced in his tone.

Your chest tightened as you struggled to keep your weight on your arms. “I didn’t plan on needing this much help”

So’lek frowned as he moved closer to you. “That does not matter.”

“It does to me.” Silence stretched between you. “You don’t look at me, you barely speak. I know you have better things to do”

His shoulders sagged, the weight of your words pulling them down as he tried to stop his mouth from frowning. “That’s not true.”

“You think I do not notice it So’lek?” Your voice trembled despite your best efforts to not show your emotions. “You tense when I move, you hover over me like you’re waiting for me to hurt myself again. I know I slowed you down. I know your only staying here because it’s some twisted sense of pity and obligation towards me.”

“That is not it-”

“Then what is it So’lek? Because it just feels like you’re angry at me for being such a burden.”

So’lek’s posture softened, his hands slowly reaching out to you. His eyes sharp and wounded, like an animal cornered by something it does not know how to fight.

“I am not angry…I’d never be angry.” His words were soft, his voice low and controlled. “I’m afraid”

The words hung in the air, fragile and unexpected. Your breath caught in your throat, unable to respondbrui to his confession. The silence was long and painful, claws scratching down your throat where words couldn’t escape.

Eyes met, it felt as if a warm wave rushed over you, washing away the pain within you for just a second as for the first time in weeks you had met So’lek’s eyes and there was not coldness. For just a moment So’lek had not been a guarded keeper of her health…but a friend.

What was he afraid of? Was he afraid you would impede on his other responsibilities? That this injury would cost him his work? What could he mean.

You felt inclined to ask. To interrogate him. But you were too afraid. Of ruining what might be the one moment of vulnerability he would bestow upon you.

“You don’t have to be afraid. It’s not like I will break.”

So’lek shut his eyes quickly, screwing them shut as he took in a sharp breath. His chest trembles as his hand gripped onto his thigh tightly. “You’re already broken. I-” He cut himself off, now unable to met your eyes. Maybe he really was afraid.

“I know that So’lek.” You huff, anger tittering on the tip of your tongue. “I’m the one that is holed up in this tent all day with nothing to do but think. But you can leave at any time. It’s quite obvious how much you resent being here.”

So’lek almost let out a hiss as he turned back to face you, his brows furrowed as he kept his hands glued to his sides.

“Resent?” The words were sour and bitter in his mouth. “You think I resent you?” He gestured towards you and your leg. Before his hands curled into fists glueing back to his sides as if he was restraining himself from something bigger than anger.

“If I resented you, I would be back at resistance. I would’ve left as soon as Minang said you would live”

Your heart hammered in your ribcage. “Then what is it? Fear? Are you scared of me or something? Because I’m pretty much hopeless right now so I don’t know why you can’t stand to be near me!”

The question slipped out of your mouth faster than you could filter it. It was raw and brittle. You hated how you sounded so…desperate. For what exactly? Reassurance? Closure? Validation?

So’lek froze, his jaw clenched. Teeth grinding against each other as he fought with himself to stop spewing out a raw and vulnerable confession.

“Because I did this to you. I shouldn’t have let you fly out. I should have said no to Nefika. I knew better and…and you got hurt.”

Your fingers dug into the plush mat beneath you. “So…this is about guilt?”

His eyes snapped back to meet yours. “This is about consequence.”

“I chose to fly out with you”

“And I chose to race you in the plains winds.” His voice was soft, quiet as he tried to stop his voice from showing too much emotion. “And I got you hurt.”

“So what? Are you going to mull around me until I can walk? Because we both know that will be a long time.” You tried to move again, face scrunching in pain.

So’lek quickly attended to you, being less subtle about his motions to help you. Placing his large hands around your waist to prop you upright onto a woven backrest behind you.

As his hands left your skin, the heat lingered, an absence that burned more than the contact itself. “Until I can get you back home safely. I will be here.”

────── ⋆☆⋆ ──────

notes: thankyou sm for reading!! i'd love to hear your thoughts what you think might happen, what you wish will happen!! it really motivates me comments, reblogs and asks are so so so appreciated. sorry if theres some errors i wrote most of this when i should have most definitely been sleeping

You scooped up the patch of carefully harvested herbs, laying them thoughtfully in the pack that slung over your shoulder. It wasn't exactly organized, only just enough not to mingle with the already cleaned and wrapped meat you'd spent the morning hunting for. But you already had plans to fix that, en route to one of the Aranahe camps before heading home. Once there, you could pass off some of the load and repack it for the return trip.

Once the pack was secured around your shoulders again, tucked beneath the string of your hunting bow, you turned and made for denser trees in the direction of the camp. You walked with a built-in navigation that could only be made by the lifetime you'd spent here. The forest was just as familiar to you as the back of your hand.

Soreness started to kick in, only a compliment to your well-used muscles. The day had been long, yes, but not fruitless. It was evident in the dull ache that made itself known every few steps. Etuwa would have an herb mixture that could soothe it. You made a mental note to ask her upon your return.

Etuwa. The thought of her stole your focus quicker than you'd care to admit. As you walked, all you could see was the image of your mate impatiently waiting for your arrival. Mate. A word you were not yet used to using. It had been a few precious weeks now, but everything still felt like a dream.

As you walked, your thoughts suddenly drifted through some of your most recent memories; the view of her strong body pressed flush to yours, the shameless sounds she made in your ear, the feeling of her open mouth on your neck. The thoughts made your tail lash harshly, having to snap yourself out of it. There would be plenty of time to relive those memories once you were safely home.

Quicker than you expected, you found yourself climbing the tangled tree roots and up onto the first woven platform of the camp. There were a few polite words of greeting upon your entrance, smiles shared as you passed off a portion of your haul to remain here.

"You are always a welcome face," One woman told you, taking particular interest in the herbs you had just gathered. "These will be useful."

You nodded in agreement, making sure to leave a couple extra for her. "There is a healthy growth not far from here. Just south." You said, watching her ears perk at the information. "Could be worth another look." She thanked you for both the herbs and the location, turning to bring them inside the open shelter.

You kept mostly to yourself after that, quietly rewrapping and repacking your day's findings so it would be more suitable for travel. Your fingers worked diligently, redoing each little bundle with care. This way, you would not have to unpack them again the moment you returned home. There were other priorities you planned to address first.

This was another little reminder of the woman who waited for you at Hometree. You glanced up at the sun to judge its position, which was getting increasingly lower. Etuwa would likely beat you back to the kelku.

Try as you may to hold onto your focus, your thoughts kept slipping. It was difficult not to let them. You felt lovesick, being so freshly mated with the woman you love so deeply. She took up a huge portion of your mind, even now as your hands began working in autopilot.

You stopped trying to prevent your mind from wandering, telling yourself it was by choice and definitely not because you had failed. And you failed horribly.

But how were you to succeed when everything reminded you of her? Even the way you tied up the small bundle of plants surfaced the memory of Etuwa undoing the same ties on your waistcloth. Her nimble fingers always made sure to drag extra slowly across your hips.

Just as you had the final bundle packed away, hushed voices pulled your attention back to reality, drawing your pointed ears in the direction they came from.

"I heard that Etuwa is courting her." The statement was so quiet that it just barely reached your ears. But the confidence with which it was spoken told you that they were completely oblivious to your presence.

"Where have you heard this?" A second voice asked. "Have you seen it with your eyes?"

“Have you seen her?” Countered the first. “Every time that young warrior is around, she behaves differently.”

That was another thing. Neither of you had said a word about mating yet to the rest of your clan. Not because it was a secret, but because you agreed to simply enjoy each other first before worrying about clan responsibilities involved with the tsahìk taking a mate. It seemed word was going to reach their ears sooner or later. They weren't wrong, technically, you were courted by Etuwa. But that was no longer the appropriate word to describe your relationship. You snickered quietly at the thought.

"Well, she does spend more time with her now." The second voice chimed in again, still completely unaware that you were hearing this. "I swear I am starting to smell her on Etuwa."

You pressed a palm to your mouth silently at the words, a blush subtly creeping from your cheeks to the tips of your ears. That part was true. But simply spending more time together was not the reason for your scent lingering on your mate.

As hard as it was to, you stood yourself up and gathered your pack and bow, slinging them both over your shoulder. An ear stayed pointed in the direction of your gossipers to hear if they would say anything more, but it seemed another topic had become more interesting. With the shake of your head, you strode across the platform and down onto the forest floor. There was still a long walk home.

Roughly half an hour had passed before you reached Hometree, and your pack was starting to feel heavier. You shifted its weight a little to relieve your shoulder. Inside, it was particularly lively this evening, every last Aranahe member who had been out enjoying the warm weather now gathered together, not quite ready to let the day come to an end. They were all calm, peacefully speaking and laughing amongst themselves as if they had nowhere to be anytime soon. It was the opposite if you, who strode past toward exactly the place you wanted to be.

Without much thought past putting one foot in front of the other, you climbed the twists and turns of Hometree in the direction of Etuwa's kelku, which was now yours as well. Something about the thought of seeing her there in mere moments made your feet move a little quicker.

The noise of the cheerful Aranahe gave way to quiet as you approached the woven entrance to your kelku, sliding it out of the way to duck inside. You found exactly what you were looking for there. Etuwa was lounged casually in your shared pile of furs, limbs stretched out comfortably, and body angled to face the small fire that lived on one end of the home. Your eyes fell over her nearly completely exposed body, armor having been abandoned and switched out with an intricate beaded top and a thin little waistcloth. Judging by the heap her armor was left in, she hadn't arrived very long ago.

It was hard not to take advantage of the moment to run your eyes over her strong frame, drinking in the image of every curve and muscle. The top she chose made them unbelievably easy to see. But it didn't take long before you were caught, Etuwa's head tilting to meet your gaze.

"Ma yawntu." She purred, pushing herself up to her feet to greet you. It only took a few seconds before she had you, hands curled around your arms and sliding up slowly toward your shoulders. "Long day, I assume?"

All the tension left your body the moment you felt her touch against your skin, so you sighed into a smile. "Very." Was your simple response, making up for it by leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.

You were foolish if you thought you'd get away with just that. Etuwa immediately pulled you back in until your lips met. The kiss was gentle, but there was a hunger beneath it, one that sparked to life your first night together and still refused to be satisfied.

She must have felt this on you, because she decided to tease you with it. You felt her tongue swipe slowly across your lower lip before pulling away, retreating even as you tried to lean back in. You groaned dramatically in protest, only putting a smirk on her face.

"Come, make it all the way inside at least." She told you, sliding your bow and pack up over your head. "That way, I can rid you of this armor properly." The words were so blunt, you were stunned for a moment, heat jumping to your cheeks. You shouldn't be surprised by now. This was Etuwa. She had always been fond of seeing you blush for her.

All you could do was follow as she crossed the small space to lay your things near a pile of supplies. Instinctively, you reached for a basket with your clothing to select a more comfortable outfit, but Etuwa had beaten you to that too. With a hand settling at your hip, she handed you a pile of clothing she had already laid aside. You recognized it immediately as one of your favorites. The waistcloth was thin and simple, but cut just right to show off the muscles along your hips and rear. The top was mostly large feathers, placed just well enough that you weren't considered naked, but only just. This particular outfit was one you would wear when you wanted Etuwa to see.

She handed it to you, but you did not take it. "I thought you were undressing me." You challenged with a sly smile on your lips, the words making her tail swish in contradiction to the growing smirk on her face.

Etuwa set the clothes down beside her with precision, leaning in to brush her lips against the spot just below your ear. "I will undress you as many times as you would like." She assured, tilting her head so her teeth could graze the edge of your ear, satisfied by the shudder that ran through your body.

You slid your hands up her toned back until you reached her neck, slipping a couple of fingers beneath the strap of her top. "Then let us start now." You muttered just as her mouth pressed firmly to the skin below your ear. With your words, you watched her tail lash and felt her lips part, allowing her teeth to graze your neck. The feeling sent a shock through your body, undeniably pleasurable, but not enough. You wanted her on your mouth.

As you felt her lips travel upward, you cupped the back of her neck, tilting your head to speed up the process until her lips slotted firmly against yours. You couldn't help but groan into the kiss, heat pooling in your abdomen.

It was messy, so different from the slow and deliberate movements you had used before. This was bolder, more desperate, all that hunger starting to creep toward the surface. Mouths moved in almost a staggered rhythm, constantly fighting to be closer, to deepen the kiss further.

One of Etuwa's hands slid down your clothed chest, hurriedly maneuvering you backward until your back pressed against the wall and your chest to your lover's. You felt your heart thumping repeatedly in your ribcage at the sudden excitement. She was everywhere. Hands roaming your body with only your armor to block her way. But all the places you wanted her were hidden beneath it.

You broke the kiss gasping, only just long enough to breathe. "Etuwa, take this off me." You instructed between breaths, growing steadily more impatient with each passing second. She huffed a breathless laugh, hands sliding back behind your neck to fumble for your ties.

The sight of her swollen but smiling lips, sheen with your saliva, would have been enough to make your knees buckle if she didn't still have you caged between her and the wall behind you. Naturally, your reaction was to lean in and capture her lips again, making sure they stayed looking that way. This made her task of ridding you of your clothing slightly more challenging, her hands pausing momentarily at the tie to grip the garment tightly.

As much as you begged for her to strip you of your armor, you didn't make it easy for her. Just as you felt the tie come undone, revealing the bare muscle of your back underneath, you tilted your head just barely to suck on her lower lip, teeth grazing skin. The feeling was agonizingly good, her whole body shuddering as a muffled groan left her mouth.

"I thought you wanted this off," She barely got out, cut off by you pulling her in closer, brows pinching at the feeling of her lips so firmly set against yours. Etuwa had to work around, leaning away just enough to let your chestpiece fall from your body and move it carefully to the side. The moment it was gone, she positioned herself against your bare chest. The feeling of your breasts pressed to hers, only separated by the tiny details of her top, was absolutely dizzying.

Suddenly, her hand dipped lower, dragging down your side to hook a finger under the strap of your waistcloth. She tugged at it just enough for you to feel it. Your breath hitched, mouth parting from hers to lean your head back against the wall behind you. "Etuwa," You warned as her fingertips slowly wandered across your hips.

Wordlessly, she latched her mouth onto the side of your neck, lips parting to let her tongue press flat to the skin there. The move sent your tail lashing behind you. She repeated this in several places, slowly working her way down your neck and chest, tongue traveling skillfully all the way down your abdomen. Eventually, she had dropped to her knees, arms holding your waist in support rather than control. It was needed, given that your legs felt like collapsing now.

"I want to taste you," She mumbled against the skin of your hip, one hand falling to grip the strap of your waistcloth. Just as you managed to open your mouth for a reply, you felt her teeth sink into your skin, replacing your words with a sharp hiss. Etuwa immediately swirled her tongue over the bite to soothe the sting. A very clear mark was left in her wake.

"You are such a tease." You muttered, bringing a hand to her temple and brushing a few loose strands of hair out of her face. Etuwa smiled into your skin, clearly pleased by the effect she had on you.

Slowly, reluctantly, as if she wished to kiss your skin forever, she removed her mouth and rested her chin against the dip between your hip and thigh to gaze up at you. "How could I not be, when I have you for my mate?" She purred the words with a swaying tail, fingers still teasing the strap at your hip.

Before you could even blink, she had a second hand reaching around to find the ties above your tail. In one quick, practiced movement, she had it undone, both hands coming to either side of your hips to drag the garment down your legs. Once you were free of it, Etuwa let out a low groan, immediately pressing a firm kiss to one of your thighs.

You could tell she wanted to savor you by the patient way her hands slid up your thighs. It was slow and unhurried, a contrast from the sloppy kisses you had shared just moments ago. "You choose now to take your time?" You questioned as her lips teased your glistening folds, hovering just close enough but just far enough away to be agonizing. A subtle smile appeared on her face.

"Patience, my love." She cooed, tracing soothing circles into your thigh. The tone she used made your heart do a flip, voice somewhere between soft and seductive. You hummed in response to it, feeling your body light up every time she came close to where you needed her.

Her desire must have won out over her self-control because her hands suddenly curled, pressing her fingertips into your skin. In the slowest, most agonizing move ever, she slid her tongue through your folds, licking a long, hot stripe all the way to your clit. A string of Na'vi curses left your mouth at the sudden stimulation, unable to stop your hips from rolling forward.

The pace she set was slow at first, allowing you to adjust to the pressure of her wonderful tongue before increasing in intensity. All you could do was take it, a hand reaching up to grasp a fistful of her hair for stability. But stability was something you were failing horribly at. With each lick and swirl and suck from Etuwa, you felt your legs weakening, succumbing to the sensation constantly delivered between them. She noticed this immediately, one hand spreading wide to hold you comfortably at your lower belly. The other continued tracing patterns at your hip.

With each movement, you felt the coil slowly being wound in the pit of your stomach. Oh, how she knew just what it took to undo you. As if she wasn't already buried between your legs, she pressed herself in closer, pulling at your hips until she had you rocking into her. You were in pure bliss, each and every movement hitting just the right spot to bring that familiar heat to your core. She was fully aware.

Her pace suddenly increased, using her strong arms to guide your hips, helping you chase your high. "Etuwa—" You gasped her name quietly, mouth agape and head thumping back against the wall. Only a few more fiery strokes from her tongue, and she had you. Pleasure rocked through your body in shockwaves, stealing what little strength was left in your legs. This time, she let your body slide down the wall, guiding you to straddle her lap. Her fingers were quick to replace her mouth, rubbing circles against your clit to ride through your orgasm. Your arms came to wrap tightly around her shoulders, burying a whimper into the curve of her neck as your hips rolled into her hand.

“That is it, yawntu.” She purred in your ear as your body began to relax, fingers gradually slowing as you came back down. “You are so good, my love.” 

You slumped against her breathlessly, taking advantage of the position to press a few featherlight kisses to the skin of her neck. Her response was immediate, scooping you up in her arms as she brushed her cheek against the top of your head.

You searched for words to say, but none seemed good enough for that moment. So all you did was giggle happily, nuzzling your nose into her shoulder. Etuwa was right there with you, squeezing you tight in her embrace as a symphony of blissful laughter passed her lips. Once the fit had ended, you lifted your head and brought both hands up to cup her face. Your heart twirled at the wide grin spread across her lips.

She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to your lips, peppering more all over your face until your giggling fit started over. Each one was filled with affection so strong, you could swear you had died and gone to the ancestors. It was hard to believe a love so strong could exist on Pandora, but it did, and it was yours. Warmth bloomed across your skin at that.

Etuwa finished at your lips again, lingering there for a moment longer. You could taste yourself on her, tail flicking at the subtle reminder of what had just occurred moments ago. It drew a sigh out of you, blocked and muffled against her mouth.

She broke the kiss only when your lungs demanded air. Silently, she reached out in the direction of the abandoned outfit she had chosen for you earlier. Before her hands could reach it, you caught her gently by the wrist, pulling her back to press a kiss to her palm. "We do not need those, yuey." You told her, eyes finding hers through your lashes. She understood your words immediately. You were not finished yet. That perfect smile returned to her face as the meaning sank in, a hand sliding up to cup your neck in the perfect mix between firm and gentle. She wasn't finished either.

Slowly, you pushed yourself up to your feet, hand grasping her forearm to guide her toward the thick pile of furs across the kelku. She followed you more than willingly, letting you lead her wherever you wanted. You stopped just as you reached the thick bedding, turning around to face her.

Your hands trailed up her arms, finding the intricate straps of her top. "Let us get rid of this, hm?" You teased, locating the ties easily. "You are far overdressed." A smirk crawled onto your lips at the swish of her tail your words earned.

It took almost no effort to rid her of her top, letting it fall to her feet and revealing her bare chest beneath it. Eywa, she was beautiful. Next, you kneeled down to work at her waistcloth, undoing it and removing it just as quickly as the top. But before you could do anything further, she followed you to the floor and snaked her arms around you, pulling you down with her into the soft furs. The moment you hit the bedding, she had you pulled flush against her, a hand under your thigh to hook it over her legs.

You two lay like that for a moment, Etuwa's eyes searching yours in nothing but raw affection. "I adore you," She whispered, smiling at the way your ears pointed forward.

"I am yours forever, Etuwa." You told her, rolling onto your stomach so that you were practically on top of her, draping a bent arm over her chest. Her response was to tighten her hold around your torso, making sure you stayed pressed right up against her.

"Well, that is good news." She teased with a short laugh, placing a long kiss on your forehead. Patiently, you wandered into the curve of her neck, nuzzling your cheek against the skin there. Her scent was muddled a little, so strongly mixed with yours that you were sure she would never lose the smell of you. If they hadn't before, others would definitely notice it this time.

The reminder of the conversation you had overheard earlier drew out the tiniest laugh, really no more than a puff of air. It was still enough for your lover to notice. "What is it?" She inquired, tilting her head to try to get a better look at you.

“They talk about us,” You informed her, tail thumping lightly against the furs. “The rest of the clan.”

“Do they?” She replied, dragging a hand knowingly up your spine. Her tone was lower, giving away that she had likely overheard her own conversations. 

“I heard a pair of hunters speaking about us.” Your lips wandered down her neck, brushing the skin but not yet kissing it. 

“And what do they say, yawne?” Her fingers reached your neck, trailing up and down it slowly.

"They think you are courting me, but they do not know we have mated." You explained with the slightest smirk, just wide enough to reveal the points of your fangs. A brow raised as you lifted your head to gaze at her knowingly. "They also say you smell of me."

You watched her expression as she calculated your words, going through the same thing you did when you first heard the conversation. "They do not think we have made it official?" She asked in confirmation, head tilting just slightly. You shook your head slowly, drinking up the sudden tension that bloomed between you. Without warning, Etuwa rolled you over until your back was flat against the plush pile of bedding. She climbed aboard your lap, straddling your hips and leaning forward until her face was mere centimeters from yours. "Should we make it official?" Her lips ghosted yours as the words were spoken, gazing at you through half-lidded eyes.

You tilted your head back to allow her mouth to find your pulse point, just under your jaw. "We will make it official as many times as you would like." You mimicked her statement from earlier in the same seductive tone, sending her tail lashing at the air behind her.

Etuwa let out something like a groan, leaning down on one elbow to support herself as her hand slid behind your head. As she rested her weight on one arm, placed right beside your head, the muscle in her bicep flexed naturally in your peripheral. The sight of it drew a shudder up your spine, ears pinning softly.

Her steady fingers brushed the base of your kuru gently, carefully bringing it over your shoulder to meet it with hers. Tendrils embraced, locking and connecting you by a force that ran deeper than the roots of Pandora. All you could do was smile, like you did every time you made tsaheylu with Etuwa. It felt as if the very essence of her soul was washed over you. It filled you with peace, yes, but also intense affection and, below that, the same strong hunger that stirred in your body. She hummed, leaning her head down to press a long kiss to your temple. Everything you felt from the connection, she did too. It was truly a blissful thing.

You hooked a couple of fingers under her chin, dragging her mouth back to yours. When they met, you felt her whole body melt into you. It was intoxicating, having her body so close to you, every curve fitting into place like pieces of a puzzle.

Eventually, Etuwa broke the kiss, slowly sitting up onto her knees. You followed her there, quick to place both hands on either side of her hips. "Want to touch you." You muttered, leaning in to place several open-mouthed kisses across her chest. She had other plans, you could tell, but she still allowed you to indulge in this, sighing as a hand curled inward to swipe a finger through her folds, finding the slick waiting for you there.

Her hands cupped your neck with all the gentleness she could muster, head right beside yours to make sure every sound she made went right into your ear. You did a fantastic job of drawing those sounds out of her. Etuwa moaned shamelessly as your fingers circled her clit, throwing away any self-control she had left.

Slowly, you ran your fingers down to her entrance, hooking one inside her. It was quickly followed by a second as her hips rocked forward. While your fingers worked diligently, your mouth resumed its task at her chest, lips and tongue trailing to the side of her breast. You sucked at her skin, making sure it was enough to leave a little mark before moving on, dragging your mouth to her nipple to use your tongue there.

Your thumb resumed circling her clit, slowly building heat inside her. It was easily shared through the bond, the gradual approach of her high. But before you could chase it for her, she took you by the wrist and pulled your hand away from her. The loss of contact was a strong feeling, one that even you protested. But she still had her other plans.

Etuwa leaned forward, gently laying you back down against the furs. They were soft below your body, wrapping you in its warmth as your lover positioned herself over top of you once again. "I think it is time they all know you are mine." She told you, head tilting so her lips could easily find the skin of your neck. Slowly, savoring every second, she let her mouth fall open, sucking intensely at your skin until there was a fresh mark. You couldn't help but moan at the feeling.

One of her hands came up to hold the other side of your head, bracing you as she moved onto the next spot, lower on your neck now. This time, her pointed teeth participated, leaving a bite mark that perfectly matched the one on your hip. The moan was replaced with a subtle hiss, one of your hands moving to grip at her waist.

She repeated this process until she was satisfied, a trail of visible marks blooming across your skin. Her gaze raked over them before finding your face, a grin on her lips that showed the teeth responsible for the handywork. "We will see now if they still believe I am only courting you." She told you, thumb brushing back and forth along your jaw.

You breathed a blissful laugh, watching your mate as she slid down your body to position herself between your legs. Your body felt as if it was on fire, sensing how close her heat was to yours. All it would take is the slightest movement at her hips to make contact.

That is exactly what she did.

While her strong arms embraced you, half supporting, half pinning your body against the floor, she sank herself down onto you. Skin met skin in the most euphoric way, drawing out a mixture of gasps and moans from both of you. You would never get used to this feeling.

"You are perfect." She mumbled, voice drunk off the sensation that ran between your bodies. Once you had caught your breath—or more accurately, once your need had grown too strong to ignore, she began a slow grind against you, heat sparking with every movement. You could do nothing but relish in the feeling of the sensitive contact, clit rolling and sliding against hers in a way that stole what air was left in your lungs.

The powerful sensation of her rhythmic thrusts, mixed with the shared pleasure through tsaheylu, brought that knot back to your stomach. You could feel it in hers as well, building at the same steady pace. "We are close, ma yawntu. You are doing so well." She breathed out between moans, eliciting the sharp thump of your tail against the ground beside you.

Her weight suddenly shifted to intensify her angle, significantly amplifying the pleasure that bloomed in your body. It was everywhere; through your legs that fought not to tremble, in your pelvis that continuously took on the strength of hers, across your skin that felt touched by the sun itself. Your hips bucked upward instinctively to chase the feeling.

"Yawne," You spoke almost weakly as the heat between you approached its head. She somehow maintained her pace, even increasing it despite the way you could feel her coming undone. You felt her movements grow a little messier with each passing second.

"Finish with me, ma yawntu." She encouraged you, uttering the words directly into your pointed ear. There was something like a whimper laced into her words, truly losing any last shred of her composure. You took no convincing beyond that.

The climax crashed over both of you, muscles tensing and hips stuttering. The sounds that fell from both of your lips were a reflection of the pure ecstasy that rolled through you, moans and cries mixing into a perfect melody. Etuwa rode your core through all of it, until your bodies came back down and every last ounce of fluid was mixed and dripping down your thighs. When you finally did recover, she practically collapsed on top of you, body still firmly pressed to yours.

"Do you think they will notice now?" She teased suddenly, face buried in the curve of your neck. You could feel her satisfied grin at the work she had done. Thanks to the obvious marks left across your body and the overwhelming combined scents of you and her, anyone who saw you within the next few days would know exactly what had happened.

You breathed a final sigh, unable to help but let a few breathless laughs bubble to the surface. "Yes, I think they will notice." You assured, pulling her in to hold her tightly against you. Even if they didn't, you would make it known now that Etuwa was yours. Rumors could continue if they wished, but that would always be true.

🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Na'vi vocabulary for the language nerds:

Eylanay - acquaintance/friend

Oel ngati kameie - I see you (greeting/acknowledgement)

Lesnonrra - full of self-pride (of yourself)

Olo'eyktan / Olo'eykte - clan chieftain (male / female)

Tsahik - spiritual leader

Torpor - the rooting of Zakru into the earth

Tsamsiyu - warrior

Irayo - thank you

Evi - kid

Ylltxep - communal fire

Nantang - viperwolf

`Are - cape/cloak

Matu - excuse me/hey

The migration of the Zakru was unlike anything you'd seen before. Their gentle, giant forms stomped their way across the fury of pastels that made up the upper plains, accompanied by the steadily drumming hooves of the Zeswa cavalry.

Kin, ever so friendly, had been riding (and yapping) beside you for the past hour, as you all accompanied the Zakru to the heart of the planes, making way for the Great Games Camp, everyone buzzing with excitement for the upcoming event. Somewhere down the line, your attention span had flown away, gliding over the colorful, unfamiliar flora like a kite manta.

"-and then Sosul spilled the entire cup of zangke over Novao, like a startled arrow deer!" Kin concluded, belly laughing hard enough at his own story to wobble on his direhorse mount. Offering a polite laugh, your eyes still lingered on the Olo'eykte of the Zeswa, naught but a few paces away, chatting with another Na'vi. The warm breeze had carried her words earlier, effectively taking hostage whatever little attention Kin had been previously holding.

"I have also heard he has joined us, but do you think he will compete?"

"Have you ever seen him smile? I doubt he will find amusement in something like the games-" the other Na'vi dismissed, but Nesim persisted with a laugh.

"So'lek has always been one to rise to the challenge. All you have to do is poke him a little with it," she said with more tease than you'd like, patting her huffing direhorse as they climbed over a slope, alongside one of the trudging younger Zakru, painted in yellow hues.

"I suppose it would be entertaining to see," the other woman agreed, their shared laughter an innuendo that wasn't lost on you.

Then, a loud noise and a strong gust broke your concentration abruptly, barely managing to contain your equally startled direhorse. Kin, who had been watching you quietly, found it hilarious.

"Careful young Sarentu, don't go falling off your mount now!" He chuckled, gently running his hand over the suspended trunk of the Zakru that had sneezed in your direction. Pollen makes an enemy of us all.

"Sorry, I was a little lost in thought-"

"More like lost in someone else's conversation." He joked, flashing a mischievous smile that held too much knowing for you to lie your way out of it.

"I... simply haven't seen So'lek in a while, so I was curious." You sheepishly replied.

"Yes, I understand you. I also look forward to seeing friends of old at the Great Games. I cannot remember the last time we were all gathered together as such-"

As he went on to reminisce, your mind drifted back to So'lek's kind words after the destruction of Mercer's facility. He had sat by you while you got patched up, his warm gaze washing over you like a campfire's glow, soothing your wounds more than any salve. Ironically enough, all it took was some encouragement and appreciation, and you had been somewhat attached to So'lek ever since. He'd offered you to join him in hunting down any remaining facilities that littered the beautiful slopes and hills of Pandora, an invitation that felt strangely intimate in the cramped medical bay of the resistance HQ.

Still, you had no claim on him whatsoever, and therefore you could not understand why you had felt something tighten in you, like a flamingo orchid closing up, at Nesim's jests.

It's not like So'lek would be interested in anything more than the missions that always preoccupy most of his time anyway...right?

.

.

.

"Been a while, eylanay!" Itu of all people called out, sprouting like a sage mushroom from the edge of the crescent formed around a Zeswa dance-fighting pit. The last time you had seen him was an hour before the attack on the facility, condemned to the fate of a foot soldier, with Zomey's departure still too fresh. It gladdened you to see him well, nonetheless.

"Oel ngati kameie!" You reply with a gentle motion of acknowledgement, which he easily mirrors. "I'm looking for So'lek-"

"I bet you are," he said with a knowing smirk, "he is up at the Archer's trail camp with Nesim, I had the pleasure to witness him ride when I also partook in the direhorse challenge. He beat my record with ease, unfortunately."

"That is a shame," you replied with a laugh at his boyish pout, "I'm sure you did great as always though!"

"Ever the diplomat, Sarentu. Direhorse riding may not have been my specialty, but I'll beat each and every record both you and he set in every other game!" He declared with a healthy doze of arrogance that was distinctively Itu, flashing you his pearly white teeth in a smug smile.

Laughing again, you turned to walk away, "well, I look forward to seeing you in the games, and to show you I've long since surpassed my teacher!"

"Lesnonrra!" He said with a roll of his eyes, turning back to the Zeswa fight pit, "I will see you out there!"

.

.

The ride to the camp was filled with an odd sensation of anxiety(?) in your gut. You weren't sure if that was the right name for it, but you certainly felt anxious, too. Your cultivated admiration and friendly bond with Nesim felt somewhat stale in your mouth now, like soured zakru milk. While you respected her greatly, the odd sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach only grew as you rode up the hill to see her swatting at So'lek's broad shoulder, teasing smile on her lips.

So'lek, ever the sharp warrior, noted your arrival first.

"Welcome, little Sarentu." He warmly greeted, and Nesim mirrored with an acknowledging hand gesture.

"Did you enjoy the ride? Are the Zakru not as marvelous in motion as they are in torpor?"

Her smile was so welcoming, that you almost completely forgot about your unreasonable territoriality. Almost.

"It was incredible. And what a beautiful sight it is, to overview the heart of the plains, bathed in sunlight. It filled my ribcage with such warmth, as if cradled by Eywa herself-" you caught yourself rambling as you met So'lek's golden gaze, speckled with mirth.

"It seems you have come to truly connect with Pandora and all its wonders, great progress since I first met you in that lab-" So'lek started, only for Nesim to interrupt, eager with excitement.

"I should've known you'd want to partake in the Great Games yourself, tsamsiyu!"

"Well, sure, though I have yet to find out what they exactly are..." you admitted, your tone laced with a hint of embarrassment as you felt the weight of So'lek's eyes upon you yet again.

"One step at a time! First challenge is direhorse archery! With any luck, you'll beat our records."

"In Nesim's case especially, as the way she shoots those arrows it is most certainly nothing but sheer luck that guides them." So'lek suddenly prodded with a humorously straight face.

Nesim barked a laugh that somehow seemed more charming than undignified, "This IS a game of speed, after all. Your mentor seems to forget that even though he met all his targets perfectly, he still scored just under me." Her smirk was almost audible.

"Well yes, anybody can finish first if they place all their pods in the basket of speed. Still," he turned to emphasize to you, "this is also an archery challenge. Not to mention you earn bonus time for every good shot. Nesim wouldn't know anything about that sort of thing, though-"

"Mighty warrior who takes his time to knock his arrows-!!"

Your gaze bounced between the two, yet you couldn't help but feel the equivalent of the tendrils of a whip leaf flick in your belly, as you witnessed what even in your envious state you could recognize as friendly teasing. Eywa, what had gotten into you?

"Anyway, give it your all, tsamsiyu!" She finally said to you, pushing So'lek's arm in order to quell this feud, even though you all knew he'd never so much as budge at the weak move. "With some luck and skill, you'll outdo us both!"

"Thank you, I'll do my best."

"You always do, I'm sure you'll do well." He encouraged, his supportive words bringing about a fresh wave of shyness over you.

Nesim cheered you on.

As you clambered onto your mount, you felt the faint heat of a blush dust your neck, ears and tail flicking nervously. So'lek, always attentive, took notice, and quietly steered the cocky Zeswa Olo'eykte some paces away, to let you prepare in peace.

.

.

"Now THAT is a score!" Itu's voice suddenly cut through the path of both Nesim and So'lek, who had been approaching your winded form at the edge of the track.

"Irayo, though it certainly was more difficult than I thought." You offered, sliding off your direhorse. "The first attempt was pitiful, truly. This one was much better."

"You just needed time to get used to the track. As soon as you knew where to go, you charged like a Thanator." Itu joked, yet his compliment was evidently sincere.

You nodded along with a laugh, pushing an escaped strand out of your eyes and behind your hunter's headband.

"That was very impressive, you beat our score by a nice solid 10 seconds, too!" Nesim praised once near, slapping your shoulder good naturedly with a bit more force than necessary.

"I learned from the best." You retorted politely, only for Itu to puff up his chest and add "She means me".

So'lek, a step behind him, did not seem amused, rolling his eyes and drawing an involuntary laugh out of you, bubbling like the base of a waterfall.

"Hold on now evi, I was the one to teach her how to ride-" Nesim now butted in, prompting you to take action before the bickering escalated.

"Let's call it a team effort, guys."

As Nesim lead the way back to the Great Games camp, Itu did not hesitate to retell the story of how you'd sought him out first, to teach you how to hunt, and then to ride an ikran. He conveniently left out the part about him needing to be saved from RDAs, and throwing you off the ikran rookery for your first flight; and you made no move to correct him.

So'lek, falling into step beside you, chuckled quietly, "yet I was the first one to ever put a bow in your hand."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, you were injured, and I had no idea which arrow end goes towards the target when I first tried to take out the RDA on your tail." You shot back with more confidence than you had that fated day, and So'lek enjoyed being on the receiving end of it, perhaps more than he should. In the last few months he had become aware of his subconscious favoritism towards you amongst the Sarentu, though he hoped he masked that well and treated everyone fairly. For the most part, you seemed none the wiser.

Putting a big, warm hand on your bare shoulder, he squeezed gently. "And today, you'd easily make Olo'eykte/Olo'eyktan. How far you've come, little Sarentu."

Biting back a smile, you elbowed his rarely unguarded side, and playfully ran ahead after the squabbling duo, twisting to catch his eye, tail flicking.

Now it was So'lek's turn to feel warm and tingly inside, as he took in your playful smile. Now that belonged in a memory painting, he thought to himself, yet sternly chastised himself upon realizing what his mind had just conjured.

He was, as Priya would say, "screwed".

.

.

.

When night fell, the ylltxep brought together an array of Na'vi - a blend of Aranahe, Zeswa, and Kame'tire had come together, as many years before, to celebrate life and to participate in friendly competition in the Great Games. Clans mixed together, peppered with a handful of resistance sky people - the palate was painted in all shades and colors of Pandora. Still, habits were hard to break, and while old friends broke cloud bread together, they still stuck to their social circles: weavers and dyers sat close, exchanging arts and crafts' advice in excited hushed tones, hunters and warriors spun tales of glory, and at the center of it all, always at least one of the reemerged Sarentu.

You saw Ri'nela from the corner of your eye, engrossed in the process of spinning a story, holding the attention of Anufi, Nefika and Minang, as Priya, Anqa and Alma listened quietly from their own circle nearby. You had at some point, as you made your way to an empty spot, seen So'lek seated between Nesim and Etuwa, and while you thought of joining them, you lost your spacial orientation in the throes of Na'vi whom you had to navigate through (and jump over) to get your cut of the meal. You weren't sure there was any space amongst them left for you, though you chastised yourself upon that thought as you knew they'd gladly make some - unlike Teylan, you knew your fears were irrational and RDA-induced; you belonged just fine, even if you sometimes had to catch up on it.

Speaking of Taylan, you briefly noted that he sat by Kin, eagerly nodding at yet another drunken anegdote only he and Sosul were privy to. You were glad he was setting root in his Na'vi ways, even if shaky, like a leaf in the storm, slowly coming onto his own. Shaking your head, you settled for an empty spot by one of the fires nearby, with a mixture of quietly conversing Zeswa and Kame'tire hunters. The somber thought of Nor's absence as you scanned the crowd felt like a sore bruise you cannot help but run your fingers over, time and time again. Aha'ri too, would've loved this. You openly spoke about these feelings with your fellow Sarentu, feeling like it would help quell them. At the same time, you refrained from telling So'lek this, afraid you'd reopen wounds of his clan's loss. Diplomacy has its downsides too, it seemed.

Clutching the wooden bowl full of Cheesy Sähena, you had barely made a dent in the mass of it when a presence filled the spot next to you.

"You'd think the holder of the highest score of direhorse archery would be a bit more merry than this." Itu's friendly taunt reached you just as your eyes raked up his chest piece and landed onto his face. He was painted in the warm tones of the ylltxep, the shadows playing on his bone structure. You forced a smile that you both knew didn't reach your eyes. He was kind enough not to push it.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought." You offered simply, turning your attention back to your half eaten food. Itu regarded you for a moment, then spoke up.

"Did I ever tell you about how my first hunt with Zomey almost led to me being eaten by a pack of Nantang?"

"No??" You prompted with a small grin, cheeks full of zakru cheese, and heart full of gratitude for the distraction.

.

.

Across the fire, a different kind of predator regarded your interaction with Itu. So'lek, who had lost you in the crowd when you'd gone to get a plate, finally found you laughing at young Itu's animated story, your profile illuminated warmly by the fire. Laughing at a boy's jokes, a boy greener than the upper plains. Though you were young, too. He took in the way your cheeks pulled, your eyes creased. He watched you throw your head back in laughter, revealing your slender neck from the wraps of your Aranahe `are, the silky yellow tones of the cape Nefika had gifted you wrapping your woven Sarentu top in a tender warmth. Glancing at Itu's similarly yellow chest guard, he caught himself scoffing involuntarily at the implication.

Unfortunately for him, Etuwa caught him, too.

"What troubles you, warrior?" She jested once her perceptive eyes had found the object of So'lek's evident ire. Her Tsahik eyes could only speculate, but your mentions of him in passing had certainly sowed a couple of spores.

"Nothing..." He trailed off, displeased even further for being caught acting petulant, like a child. He pinned his gaze onto his empty bowl, knowing fully well that he has no reason to feel this threatened. You and So'lek were nothing but friends and allies, after all. Feeling this way was disgraceful, you were quite younger than him, too.

"He may be a little big headed, but Itu's both a fine hunter and man." She slowly started, treading in the murky, uncertain waters of So'lek's mood.

"I'm sure he is, I've watched him fight and spoken to him firsthand."

"He's grown a lot since he lost his ikran at the hands of the sky people."

"Yes, we spoke about it at the camp earlier today. I too have lost my bonded in battle. I know the loneliness and pain that kind of loss brings all too well." So'lek said, risking a glance in your direction, just in time to catch Itu giving you a piece of his Mushroom Picker's pie. You pat his wrist cheerfully.

"Yet, you do not seem too happy to see him spending time with your protegè." Etuwa pressed in a lowered, conspiratory whisper, as she noted Nesim's conversation with the others next to them becoming less loud and animated.

"They are not my protegè-" So'lek winced slightly, finding the mere idea that you needed mentoring silly; you were both incredibly talented and intuitive, you had no need for teachers like him or Itu.

"Perhaps not in your eyes, no." Etuwa carefully said, setting down her own empty bowl, "but our Sarentu needed all the guidance and support they could get. It's a dangerous enough world out there as is - they need to know they have someone to lean on...when the storm grows too rough."

Only then did So'lek finally meet Etuwa's gaze, brimming with meaning.

A loud cheer from their circle broke the tense moment. Sighing, he rose to his feet, excusing himself from the group. Nesim and the others barely spared him a goodbye, as they were still loudly joking and gesturing, placing bets on the Great Games. Etuwa only nodded at him with a secretive smile. Perhaps there was something there after all. Good luck, Sarentu.

.

.

"That's preposterous!" a Zeswa warrior interjected yet again over Itu's new story about fighting off 11 RDAs at once with nothing but a handful of arrows on foot. Itu doubled down, and you had to heatedly confirm that while unbelievable, Itu had made quite a mastery out of disorienting RDA soldiers in the Kinglor thicket.

"Surely those big metal bodies of theirs tower over-"

"Matu," So'lek suddenly interrupted, making all the young warriors halt abruptly. You looked up at him from your spot, cheeks flushed from several deep gulps of Zangke the Zeswa warrior across you had offered, as well as the heat of the flame and discussion. "I'm afraid I must borrow the Sarentu for a moment."

"And who will broker the peace then?!" Another tipsy Kame'tire hunter joked, perhaps too loudly, making stabbing motions between the other two men.

"I'm sorry to say, you are all doomed." So'lek replied with more mirth than he thought he had left in him tonight.

In your inebriated, baffled bashfulness, you rose abruptly, swaying dangerously close to the ylltxep from your blood being more Zangke than anything, really. Itu's left hand subconsciously shot out to catch your hip from where he sat, but he, for the second time that day, was too slow.

Your breath stuttered as you gathered your bearings in So'lek's strong arms; as he held you firmly by the waist. Looking up at him, so close, you suddenly became very aware of how beautifully his eyelashes framed his amber in the fire glow eyes. In turn, he looked down at you, slight concern evident in his features, yet all you could think of was how much you'd like to press your lips against the thin old scars that run along the side of his face, kiss each one of them better. You couldn't help but wonder, when was the last time someone so consumed by revenge and survivor's guilt had been held by anybody, consoled? You had Ri'nela and Teylan, perhaps one day Nor if he were to return, but who did he have, all alone in this world?

He had wanted to chastise you, truly, but the moment he saw that shadow of sadness run across your sweet face, he decided against it.

"You seem unwell. Let's get you outside for some fresh air."

The others, too preoccupied with battling over the last sips of Zangke, barely noticed the two resistance warriors take their leave. Itu only smirked knowingly as his eyes met Etuwa's across the communal space. She rolled her eyes at him, suddenly connecting the dots of his unspoken plan. At least someone was showing initiative.

.

.

"Have a seat." So'lek said softly, guiding you to sit on the smooth rock bed, overseeing the River of The Lost. He offered you water from his water skin, which you greedily drunk as if you had been stuck in polluted, dried up RDA territory.

"Irayo," you finally mumbled, pressing your palms to your heated cheeks and forehead.

He sat close by you, giving you just enough space to cool down. Your drifting eyes took in the coursing river and the vastness of the upper plains, while So'lek took in the planes of your face, bathed in the glow of Polyphemus. You eventually turned towards him, a small smile forming on your lips.

"Thank you for always watching out for us...for me."

"You do not have to thank me." He says earnestly.

"I know. But... I feel like you don't hear it enough."

"Hear what?" So'lek asked absent-mindedly, eyes chasing constellations in your bioluminescent markings, wondering how inappropriate of him it would be to trace them with his fingers as he cradles your endearing, tipsy face. Had this fondness always been gnawing at his weary bones?

"I cannot imagine how lonely and hard it must be, always being on guard, running towards danger, alone."

"Do you not also run towards danger constantly?" He asked, leaning on his palm in your space, against the stone, amused.

"Yes, but I do it because I want to protect. Not to destroy. You seem to want the RDA to feel everything the way you did when you lost your people and home. I hardly remember what I've lost. I can only hurt for the things I never had, which are easier to mourn."

So'lek's face fell ever so slightly, but you knew him better than he thought, as you immediately grabbed his hand to apologize.

"I'm sorry, I only realized how insensitive that was after it came out of my mouth-"

"As opposed to your usual, put together Sarentu rhetoric." His rich, deep laugh caught you so off guard that all you could do was gape for a second.

"Hey, I try really hard to live up to my predecessors' legacy okay? You have no idea how hard it is to start with a blank slate, while everyone has a blueprint of who you're supposed to be, except for you."

His gaze softened, and suddenly it was your hands that were wrapped in his much bigger ones. "I'm sorry for not doing more for you."

"You don't have to do anything, or be sorry. Just...being here...is enough."

"Then," So'lek said quietly, ever so carefully, as if afraid he'll scare off a meer deer, "let me be here for you whenever you need me."

"...you already always reply to my stupid radio calls and questions 24 hours per day." You joked, but as he ran his thumb over your knuckles, your humor faded.

"I'd like to be there for even more...if you'll have me." He added, briefly letting go to remove one of his intricate bracelets, woven with beads and colors of his clan; a beautiful polished shell seated in the middle.

"It's not especially made for the occasion but, it is just as sentimental." He sheepishly said, and for the first time, you looked at So'lek and saw a lonely soul, not a gruff man hardened by loss and pain.

"It's lovely because it's yours." You replied, offering your wrist for him to clasp it on.

"Hopefully, so are you."

"Lovely because I'm yours?" You teased.

"Lovely and mine." He corrected, his face a breath away, eyes downcast, face focused on fastening the bracelet.

"That can be arranged." You shot back, and leaned in to press your mouth clumsily against the corner of his, right on a little silver scar.

"I see you." He whispered against your lips, eyes closed. "I saw you from the moment you took my bow and poorly shot those RDAs by the creek, without hesitation, in spite of the fear."

"I see you, even when you're shrouded in past and present anger. I wish I could disperse that fog for you." You whispered back.

This time he kissed you slowly, properly, savoring the sweetness of your words, the stutter of your breath, and the little whine upon parting.