#neteyamsully

Oh My Eywa, you’re jealous.

2.7K words

This is my first time writing upon request, so I hope this is good!

Let me know if you like it!

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Neteyam was rarely jealous.

At least that's what (y/n) thought. In the couple of years she's known him, he always acted calm, collected, and cool.

But that was just a front.

Only his family really knew this little facade was only a way to impress (y/n). Since she joined them three years back, he was always acting tough, intelligent, and unintentionally funny in front of her. But in reality, he was a complete mess, consulting his family on every way to impress the girl.

"Do these braids make my head look bigger?"

"Is it better to compliment someone's hair or fighting style?"

"Is a training date a good idea? Would (y/n) enjoy that?"

one shot. maybe.

pairings: neteyam x metakyina!reader

wc: 1k+

desc: he's never like this. not until he sees you with him again, and this time he can't handle it.

cw: none..i think? i don't think there's really anything in here that warrants a warning.

a/n: ohhh myy gosh guys thanks for the support on my last post!! i literally felt like that was such a slop piece but ig not?? i love ur guys' comments feel free to request or yknow ttm im always bored. also i didn't proofread this sorry

He’s never been the type to be possessive. It just wasn’t in his nature… at least not until he sees how Ayayto inches closer to you without warning, how his eyes dance over your features in a way that seemed too intimate for “just being polite.” But he wasn’t the jealous type… right? 

It sure didn’t look like it when his ears flicked back to press against his head, his tail swishing behind him in annoyance. Even his fists were clenched, and anybody in a ten miles radius could tell something had irritated to young man.

“You know, my mother makes this very nice nawmstexli bowl. You should come and try it sometime,” Ayayto offered, being awfully kind to a woman he "had no wrong intentions" with.  

Ayayto was a known warrior around the reefs, especially with your family. You were the daughter of the Olo’eyktan after all, so the strongest warriors were very close to your father. That meant you knew of him, but you two never really talked. Well, you never talked to him.

“Yeah, maybe–” 

“Hey… Ronal needs you.” Neteyam came up behind you, slowly slipping a hand around your waist, his tail flicking against the sand. Apparently he couldn’t handle seeing you with him for that long, and his jealousy reared its ugly head. 

You just looked up at him, a mix of shock and amusement on your face. You knew why he was doing this. He was so jealous, and now he was never going to live it down. Especially when things like this never happened because of his “maturity.” 

“Just one second,” you excused yourself, standing from the log in the sand to go somewhere more private. He already had that look on his face, the one that said “don’t laugh at me” all over it. 

“Before you say anything, I’m not jealous.” He said quickly, just as soon as you guys were behind a few mangrove branches. 

“Yes you are. You just don’t want to admit it.” Your reply was quick because you were sure of the answer. 

“I’m sorry, it was just painful watching that.” He said, pulling you just a little bit closer. 

You were too busy thinking of all the ways to tease him about this to notice. 

“Watching what?,” you responded, smirking and carrying that sneaky tone in your voice. 

“His terrible attempt at flirting.” He said, before holding back a chuckle. He was messing with you just as much as you were messing with him. You were just more prideful about it. 

“He wasn’t flirting. Our family knows his mother very well. He just wanted me to try the food.”

You both knew that wasn’t true. Ayayto had been trailing around you since you were 13, waiting for some chance for you two to be together. Ronal was persistent on the idea that you two bond, since you had given up your training as tsakarem for Tsireya. She thought it was better for you to bond with someone from your own clan, someone who had a good relationship with the family. Of course, that only wanted you to bond with Neteyam more. 

“Sure he wasn’t. I saw it, Y/N. Nobody looks at another Na’vi like that unless they want to mate.” 

You just rolled your eyes. You never really indulged in Ayayto’s flirting, especially because you were happy with Neteyam, but sometimes you liked to see the boy’s reaction when you even agreed to have a meal sometime. His whole face would light up and he’d get all confident, but Neteyam hated it. He liked you when you were only flirting with one guy. Him.

“Well, if you were jealous, I hope you know no other guy is worth my time more than you.” 

You said, a softer smile on your face now. Over time, since you and Neteyam had started seeing each other, you started to notice the smaller things about being around someone you actually enjoyed being with. You were used to being set up with warriors and soldiers that would keep your social status high, not people who were even the slightest bit interesting… but when the Sully’s came? You were full tunnel-vision on Neteyam from the beginning. 

Every time you and Neteyam were together, you would teach him something new. How to properly ride an Ilu, how to hold your breath for longer than three minutes, how to cut up yovo fruit, anything. Then he started teaching you things. You were one of the first Metkayina to ride an ikran, and also one of the first to even try and learn archery. Around the reef, there were a lot more spears than arrows, but now you were pretty familiar with both.

“Well, I’m not, but if I was..” 

He pulled you just a little closer, and this time, you could feel the distance close. 

“I would hope you know I feel the same about you.” 

You leaned in a little and he mirrored you, just enough for your lips to plant a kiss against his. It was soft, brief but meaningful. You never wanted him to worry about you being with another man, but you liked seeing that side of him come out every once in a while. It reminded you that he cared, that he didn’t want to see you with anyone but himself. And that was a comforting thought.

“Hmm, I wonder if mother still needs me,” you said, just after his lips unlatched from yours. His poor excuse to get you away from Ayayto hadn’t been brought up yet, and you thought maybe this was a good time. 

“I’m sure she’s alright by now.” 

His response didn’t surprise you, but you still cracked a little smile. 

Still, you wouldn't let him live this down. He rarely ever got jealous, and when he did he was never very subtle about it. He would rather die than admit it, but maybe once they were alone, and the sun had gone to rest while the moon lit up the night sky, he’d slip a little apology for cutting off your conversation for his own issues. 

divider by: @uzmacchiato

Strangers to friends - I

I'm no professional so there will be some off things in this story, but i did try my best….thank you for reading.

_____________________________________________

He heard it as clear as the day. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but when Neteyam heard his name, he stopped on his track and hid behind a tree to listen.

“Neteyam must choose for himself, my friend. A bond is sacred; it’s for a lifetime, so his mate must be someone he chooses and who chooses him,” Jake said with certainty.

“Y/N may have made some mistakes in the past, but she has changed, and this arrangement would be seen as strength and hope for our clan. This is what the clan needs. With the return of the Sky People, the people hope that the line of Turok Makto will continue.”

Neteyam saw how his father considered the words of his great friend. With the threat of the Sky People looming in the corner of the forest, he knew that his father might try to talk him into this arrangement. But Neteyam knew you from the past—a girl who declared her love and ambition to mate with him in the future, the girl who tried scaring other girls showing interest in him—and he thought that this union would only bring chaos.

Neteyam had heard enough and quietly left. But instead of walking home, he chose to walk the path leading to a river. As he walked closer, he saw a familiar figure—the very person his father considered to be his future mate. Y/N. And there she sits atop a rock, his potential mate, sharpening the tip of her arrow to perfection.

“It's not good to stare at people,” you suddenly called out, without taking your gaze away from your work.

“I'm not staring…”

“And you're here because…?”

Neteyam sighed as he tossed a rock in the water.

“They're planning a future for us… your father and mine.”

“I know…”

“You know?”

“Yes…”

“And?”

“And?”

“Are you not gonna protest about it?”

“Why should I? My father is a wise man. If he thinks it is good, then it is good.”

“It's not just about what's good; it's about the future. Don't you want someone you choose?”

“I choose you…”

Neteyam went still. Words he wanted to say were forgotten. He didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. No, he was raised to see the broader view of the situation and to think before saying words so that he wouldn't suffer the guilt of hurting others. But now, all the restraint was gone, and before he could stop himself, he uttered the words in a whisper—but he knew that you heard it.

“I don't….”

But instead of anger or distaste, you smiled—not a soft one, but more like a smirk. And it caught him off guard.

“If you have the guts to say no to your father… why not?”

Neteyam stared at you with a clear expression of restraint. There was disbelief and annoyance in his eyes as he looked at you. And without a word, he walked away, leaving you alone.

When he arrived home, his father called for a family meeting to share his opinion about the said union. Neteyam was quiet throughout the conversation and only nodded at his father's words. He repeated your words inside his head:

“If you can say no to your father… why not?”

If he could say no…

He wanted to, but he couldn't. So he just sat there like an obedient child as his father put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Just give it a chance. At the end of the day, it's still your choice, son.”

Is it really?

If at the end of the day it didn’t work… would i be a disappointment.

For weeks he busied himself with training himself and other warriors. He helped hunt and gather herbs, even joined Lo’ak and Spider on their adventure in the guise of keeping an eye on his brother, just to avoid you. Because he knew in himself that he wasn't ready yet. And the talk of you announcing to the clan that the two of you were to be mated was not helping either.

But when his father suddenly gave him a ‘break’ and said, “Maybe you can use this free time to get to know Y/N,” he knew his hiding was over, and now he must face the reality. You.

Every time he tried to show you what he did in his everyday life, you either said, “It's not fun,” or “It's boring,” and he thanked the Great Mother for the patience she bestowed upon him—for today was the same as the other days.

“I must say I'm impressed…” you said as you watched him shoot the target with his arrow, and he only hummed in response.

“And bored…”

“This is me, boring…”

Stifling silence enveloped the two of you as Y/N stared at him intensely. He lowered her bow and arrow and finally looked at her.

“What?…”

“........ Come.”

Y/N said as she ran away with her own bow and arrow, giving Neteyam no choice but to follow her as she ran through the forest to where their Ikrans were resting.

“Where are we going?”

“Be quiet and follow me…”

They rode their Ikrans to a place Neteyam hadn't considered going. But to please this girl, he had to follow her, so she wouldn’t complain about being bored to her father, and then his father scolding him.

It was a long flight, and when he finally thought they were at the place she wanted to go, she suddenly said, “Now we walk.” By the time they arrived at a tree near the edge of the cliff, it was getting late.

“We have to go back; it's getting late, my father—”

“Shhh… wait and see. Any time now, and you'll see…”

“See what?..”

A roar in the sky answered his question. Its large wings cut through the wind with greatness. Y/N’s heart lifted at the sight of him finally letting go of his duties, marveling at the Toruk with unguarded awe. She had hoped he’d see wonder, not just responsibility, and now he did—and it made her chest ache with something unfamiliar, maybe hope.

He turned his gaze to you, seeing your soft smile and the happiness in your eyes—it was new to him. It was like this was the first time he ever saw you in this light, or maybe you were always like this, but he had been blinded by what he believed.

“This is so great…” you whispered as you watched the great Toruk fly above before finally entering a big cave at the top of the mountain.

You stayed there for a long time. Neteyam saw you in a new light from that day—a girl different from the story, not tempered, not so boastful, but with sparkling eyes filled with happiness and excitement. Your muffled laugh and smile stirred something in him, a curiosity to know more than he knew.

Before they knew it, it was dark. They arrived home and unmounted their Ikrans, still beaming with joy and laughter.

“I'm curious how you know where it lives…”

“Patience is a great ability to harness… and a little rebellion.”

Before he could ask you more questions, he heard his father's voice calling to him. And that's when they knew they were in trouble and had to part ways.

From then on, something changed between them. They spent more time together, mostly flying, challenging each other on who could shoot arrows faster, discovering hidden spots, and exchanging greetings whenever they saw each other—which was a big shock for the people. They knew your past actions and how Neteyam was not happy about it. They expected this talk of union to end right away, but it did not. In fact, it looked like the two of you were comfortable with each other now. Not in a love way, but more like friends.

But happiness didn’t last forever. His father gave him and his brother a mission as spotters for an upcoming battle with the Sky People. And it didn't go well. He and his brother disobeyed orders. They came back injured, a lot of people were, including your older brother. He saw you as you ran over to check your unconscious brother. Soaked in blood, the worry in your face and the look of sadness you gave him drowned his soul in guilt.

If only he had listened, none of this would…

After the scolding he got from his father and treatment from his grandmother, he gathered the courage to go to your kelku, where you watched over your injured brother. When he entered, he saw you sitting beside your brother.

“It's not good to stare at people…”

“I'm sorry…” he whispered.

“For what?” you said, finally looking at him.

“It is my fault. I take full responsibility…” he repeated the words he had said to his father earlier, with the expectation of an agreement from you.

“It is not…”

His heart tightened—your words did not blame him. When you had the right to be angry at him, you only smiled.

“We know the risk of fighting the Sky People…”

“But still…”

“But still, it shook me when I saw him unconscious. I always thought we had more time in this world…”

You stood up and slowly walked toward Neteyam, who couldn’t look in your eyes, his eyes filled with guilt. Slowly, you put one of your hands on his chest, right where his heart is. That’s when he finally looked at you. It hurt to see and hear how he blamed himself, when you knew he had always been a kind-hearted person—a warrior with a soft and strong heart.

“You have a strong heart. Don't forget who to blame in this sorrow… many died and were injured, but it's not because of you. Don't forget our enemy. The Sky People. They are the ones I blame, not you.”

As he thought that the bad things are over and a good day would come next, the demon his parents once fought took his siblings hostage, leading to a bloody fight. His father, shaken by what happened, decided that it was time to leave the forest and everything they ever knew… their home. You, his friend.

It was the hardest goodbye.

The people cried for their Oloeyktan, their Turok Makto, his wife—the fearless warrior who brought them peace—and his family. And you… you stood there with sadness in your eyes. You approached him before he mounted his Ikran.

“Here… it will be a long ride. Another layer of warmth won’t be bad…” You gave him a woven shawl.

“I'll see you again… my friend…”

“I'll see you… maybe I'll get bored and fly to your new home for fun…”

“With your rebellion, I don’t doubt you'll find us…” he said playfully.

“Mostly patience,” you shrugged with a smile.

And suddenly he pulled you into a hug. It was warm and nice. You didn’t know if you’d ever see him again—maybe you would, when you were both old enough, and he probably would have a mate. It ached your heart, but you’d rather have that than a life here with you… where he wasn't safe.

Neteyam Imagine

Pairings: Neteyam Sully & reader

Date posted: March 12th, 2026

Genre: Neteyam Imagine. fluff! friendship to lovers.

Word count: 1,359 words

Rating: Sfw but I still prefer no minors on my page!!

Author’s note: Second writing posted on this page, yayyy! it’s something short and what I had collecting dust on the shelf. Felt inspired to finish it off. it’s not fully detailed but it’s something that I wanted to type to hopefully get out of writer’s block so I can enjoy roleplaying instead of thinking of I have to do it- life has been difficult & i’ve lost motivation to write when I have other stuff going on. Yet I love writing! Hopefully all goes well & I hope you enjoy what i've wrote! Might be some errors!

p.s. I can go on & on but I don’t want it super long.

banner credits to @cafekitsune

Stubborn but not so much like Lo’ak is

Kind, has a soft spot but doesn’t seem to show it due to his responsibilities that are set out for him.

You can easily tell how much he cares with his siblings even though him and Lo’ak bicker here and there. They’re siblings, close at fact- they will have fights. Neteyam always trying to lead Lo’ak in the right direction.

Neteyam trying to be the responsible one & watch over everything but deep down wanting to tag along in the charades that Lo’ak gets to do. He means well and is only looking out for him, always.

He knows that Lo’ak feels deeply when it comes to his family bashing onto him but Neteyam admires Lo’ak for his courage and determination for being himself. He wouldn’t change anything about his brother.

I see everywhere on here that he is the BIGGEST FLIRT ON HERE… I have to disagree. I don’t think so, he would watch your movements.. trying to be sly about it too. Using his training by being stealthily but I don’t see Neteyam as super dominant as others set him out to be.

Once he is fully comfortable and set with his mate but he is a beginner at romancing!

He puts an act towards others but deep down, if it came to romancing- he wouldn’t have a clue to do. He would be shy and timid, a gentleman at heart- but you’d think that it was just mannerisms.

I think he would be so intimidated and flustered that he would come to Lo’ak about things, his brother teasing him about it but nevertheless being there for him. Lo’ak wasn’t great either but he was processing things with Tsireya by being himself- which is what he would tell Neteyam to do.

Neteyam would stammer over his words, his words caught in his throat as he made a slight fool out of himself as his brother teased him for it. Then respond for him, snapping him out of his daze. He was a love struck puppy but fighting with wanting to keep the friendship okay.

He was a true gentleman, he would lead the way and try to make things easier for you. He would hunt and catch meals, preparing them just for you. Picking out things that reminded him of you, flowers or stuff to accessorize your attire and within your hair.

Little by little getting close, holding your hand, taking you off on late night rides on his ikran, hunting together. swims together, anything and everything to be close by you.

When he would go on long trips, he would come back with things for you and always looking for you first to talk to about his trip. The Sully’s were always on the move.

When things were confirmed, he would match beads within his braids that reminded him of you. He was a sap for his mate. He would love and protect to the end of the worlds for his love.

He would ask to court you after a night flight within the forest as the bioluminescence was shining so bright- he handmade you a beautiful necklace piece. It would resemble something like his, marking you in a way as you are his.

You’d say yes and hug him, he wouldn’t cross the line of any physical touch unless you wanted so. And you did, you kissed him first and it flustered him- He respected you and he didn’t want to do anything wrong.

You would see the look at his face afterwards, giggling as you apologized but he only shook his head. Asking for permission to kiss you properly and it was a very nice kiss, he would lift your chin as he titled his head pulling you in by your chin and his other hand on your waist. Tugging you close and rubbing your lower back. It was passionate because it showed how much he cares about you.

You felt like a skxawng when you didn’t realize his feelings, you thought of it as simple friendship and him being Toruk Makto’s son- respectful. It wasn’t until Lo’ak and Tsireya had accidentally brought it up- Neteyam had went off to go do something for his dad. Not forgetting to say goodbye to you by bringing you a beautiful shell he found in the seaside, you were chatting with the two as Neteyam was walking among the shore deep in thought. Or so you thought, he was determined by finding you a piece that resembles you.

You’d bid him goodbye, telling him thank you as he gently held your hand a bit longer than expected as he placed the shell in your hand. You went back to the conversation with the others like nothing but on their faces, it was obvious. Something was up and you had no clue what was it.

They told you and you denied it, it went on and on until it did click. There was something more going on as you felt your chest clutch and your heart race, your stomach in knots deeply hoping that they were right. You didn’t know but there was only one way to find out, to confirm this accusation they were saying.

You didn’t know how to bring it up but you tried small attempts of reciprocating acts of service and little bit of affection, in a way that made things fell beautifully into place. It wasn’t rushed, it was perfect in your opinion as you wanted things to be done right. You wanted to enjoy the build up with him, you wanted to cherish each moment in life in a way you could remember them so you could recollect later on. You were sentimental that way.

Neteyam felt the same way, he was never in a rush to process things with you.. he was wanting to get to know you on a deeper level as you two were only ever as best friends. Never the romance part, it was new as if getting to know someone new. He knew you already so it was easy, he just wanted to know how to love you in the way that you need.

He never wanted to have you question his actions or how he didn’t love you in the way you need. He would let you in about himself as you were wondering the same. This love would be pure and grant, you didn’t think that it was possible.

It was fun getting to learn another on those bases, it was enticing as you two would race within the forest nearby. Neteyam showing off his skills as you tried your best, you weren’t half bad as you did have some training. You did like the view of him showing off, he was very fit and looked fierce. He was a warrior within even if he would fluster at the nickname, he only liked hearing it from you.

It was fun swimming together, the others were sick of yous as you were as if built at the hip. If it wasn’t you following Neteyam, it was him. You’d enjoy riding ilu’s and skimwings together.

He was reassuring in a loving way when it came to your Iknimaya, he cheered you on because he knew you were built to be a fighter. He loved every trait of you and seeing you be so independent in yourself. You had no doubt when it came to yourself and your relationship with Neteyam.

When you got your tattoos, he was right there holding your hand for support. He would regret the decision as you used his hand as a stress reliever but it was you, he enjoyed being there for you in every step of the way. You had the done exact same for him.

When the time came, he was a devoted father to your children, you never did question his love for you. He protected his family from dangers and made sure his family were well fed and loved, he would hunt the finest hunt.

It was easy loving another, a built in love overtime from a good friend ship.

all rights reserved to @skatazz no translations allowed. no reposting. not on here or any other platforms. all works belong to me.

None of the photos or banners I used are mine.

Part One

~Word count: ~2.9k

~Warnings: mentions of death and near-death experience, survivor’s guilt, emotional trauma, possessive/protective Neteyam, canon divergence (Neteyam lives), mutual pining, slow burn

~Description: ~Neteyam Sully was supposed to die.

He knows it. The clan knows it. Eywa knows it.

Instead, he lives — and something inside him doesn’t.

Neteyam Sully / female Omatikaya reader

Summary: You were an inconsequential member of the Omatikaya clan who had failed your rites of passage once already. You were born to heal, not hunt or fight. So, why had the tsahìk designated Neteyam of all people to take over your training? What business did the future olo’eyktan have mentoring you? But it was too late now. You should have known better than to fall in love with your mentor. You had known this day would come; the day when your success would mean losing his company. You should have clung on tighter to your heart while you still had it…

Content: Angst & fluff, pining, protective Neteyam, romance, Neteyam is your mentor, teacher-student chemistry, eventual happy ending, slight age-gap fetish, older man-younger woman.

Word count: 6.5k

Notes: This is my first ever Tumblr fic post! I've posted previously on AO3, Wattpad and FF.net, but I discovered this wonderful fandom on Tumblr recently and you've inspired me! Shout out to these bloggers whose work and writing I've been avidly browsing recently - @cinetrix, @andraga12, @pandoraslxna, @lanasblood and @draiochtwrites Special thanks to @cinetrix for her fabulous Neteyam renders. SO. BLOODY. GORGEOUS. This is also my first attempt at a Neteyam/Reader style of writing, so I hope I've done it justice. I personally don't like the usage of 'Y/N', so the reader's name in this is Seyla. The name is not used often, but there are a few points where it has been used for stylistic/emotional effect in the dialogue. Cross-posted also on AO3 - Show Me & Teach Me Other works available - VividInk AO3

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

The dichotomy of emotion that swirled in your chest was a frustrating ache; a blight against the happiness of the occasion. Today was a happy day, and yet the unwelcome despondency you felt stubbornly insisted on battling with your elation at having finally completed your rites of passage. You had completed Iknimaya to tame your own ikran last week, and yesterday you had completed your uniltaron (dream hunt).

You were officially a woman now, born again as one of the Omatikaya, and tonight the entire clan was celebrating you and your other successful peers. Your peers who are all a few years younger than you are… The pessimistic part of your brain unhelpfully supplied.

The swallow of saliva down your throat was tight at the thought and you mentally attempted to bat away the negativity. So what if you were a late bloomer? What mattered was that you had succeeded now, and you had one person in particular to thank for that.

Neteyam…

His name breathed like a soothing balm over your fraught mind, but before your thoughts could carry you further away from the jovial festivity that surrounded you, the call of your name jolted you from your contemplation.

“Seyla! Come and join us! Tonight isn’t for sitting, it’s for dancing!”

Twisting your torso where you were seated to meet the mirthful eyes of another girl across the bonfire, you gave her a small grin in response and shook your head. Nope, you were not much of a dancer. You were skilled with your hands; at weaving; at beading, and at healing – especially healing -, but the rest of you was as uncoordinated as they came. This was one of the reasons it had taken you longer than most to achieve your rites.

You raised your voice to ensure it would carry over the percussion drumbeats of the music and the crackle and spit of the fire, “No thanks! You go on, Pania! I can’t dance, and I’m happy being merry over here with my drink!” The vessel of bittersweet alcohol in your hand was brought to your lips once more to prove your point and though Pania pouted, she acquiesced and returned to her frolicking.

Shyness had been your constant companion your entire life. You had never liked being the centre of attention, had always been content to just blend into the background where it was safe and constant. Happy though you were tonight at your success, no amount of cajoling would to persuade you to join the mosh pit of revelry around the bonfire. You preferred your quiet contemplation, observing and finding joy in others’ bliss while they enjoyed the celebration around you.

With another sip of your drink, you sighed to yourself as the liquid burned a path down your throat.

As always, your gaze wandered through the sea of swaying and jaunting bodies, seeking out the strapping frame of the man you had become familiar with recently. You had grown fond of him over the many moons you had spent under his tutelage, far too fond, you realised. It was not long before you found him, mingling amongst a group of the other mentors.

Neteyam was laughing heartily among them, nursing his own vessel of alcohol. His smile was dashing, and his laughter was like music to your ears, warming the cockles of your heart and setting it aflame. You felt your own lips pull into a diffident smile of your own at the sight of him. He was so beautiful; both inside as well as out.

You remembered being mortified at first when he had been assigned as your replacement mentor. It had happened not long after his family had returned to the clan following the Long War.

The return of Toruk Makto and his family had been greatly celebrated; the return of their beloved olo’eyktan and the return of Neteyam as his successor. Neteyam had always been handsome, even in his youth. You recalled the silly girlhood crush you had harboured for him, a boy several years older than yourself who took not much notice of you, although he had always been kind in the few interactions you had shared.

Neteyam had returned to the clan even more striking now that he had grown into a man, with the toned musculature of a warriors’ body that made even the most reserved of women think unchaste things. You were guilty of this too.

So, imagine your horror when tsahìk Mo’at had pronounced that Neteyam would take over training you for your second attempt at your rites. Great. Just what you needed; more self-conscious pressure…

You had not done well under Rini’s instruction. Rini was one of the best young warriors in the clan, but she had found your lack of confidence frustrating and your timid nature more annoying than endearing. She had been impatient and exasperated as a result, the entire ordeal culminating in the shame of your first unsuccessful attempt at Iknimaya. You had not been injured, but you had failed because none of the ikran had challenged you and you had made no further attempt to tame one.

The decision for Neteyam to replace Rini had shocked you and it had made no sense. Even thinking back now, it still made no sense. Great Mother, why would anyone devote the time of the future olo’eyktan to the training of an inconsequential young woman?

Nevertheless, Mo’at’s decision had proven to be beneficial to your learning. You put it down to Neteyam more so than yourself. You were still the same old you; bashful, uncertain and reluctant to cause things harm, even if it was hunting wild game for the clan’s sustenance. Neteyam just had a way about him; he was unassuming and patient, and he had made you feel at ease with him.

The lively swell of the music around you faded into the background as your thoughts consumed you once more. The memory of your first meeting with Neteyam floated into the forefront of your mind…

*** FLASHBACK ***

“Tsahìk, I think the yalnabark tincture is done brewing. I’ve taken it off the fire for now or the mixture might scorch at the bottom.” You called out assuredly. If there was one thing in life you knew you were good at, it was the art of healing.

Mo’at reappeared from around the partition in the healers’ hut, crouching down to test the consistency of the tincture in the pot by stirring it gently with a wooden ladle. The viscous fluid bubbled gently and you knew it would cool eventually to form the thick salve you were used to slathering on cuts and wounds.

The tsahìk sniffed the wafting fumes before settling appraising gold eyes on you. She smiled and the expression made the corners of her eyes and mouth crinkle with warmth, “Well done, child. It’s the perfect consistency.”

Beaming at the praise you received, you settled the pot to the side to cool and began gathering your things to clean up for the day. Eclipse was fast approaching and the light of day was fading fast. Quietly, you wondered to yourself why you could not just carry on as you were, learning from Mo’at and assisting her with the sick and injured from day to day.

You were born to help people; to heal them and give them comfort in difficult times. Hunting and learning to spar with knives and spears were the farthest things away from your proficiencies.

“You are thinking so loudly I can hear your thoughts.” Mo’at hummed, her lips forming a wry grin.

“I just don’t understand why I have to train and pass Iknimaya. I’ll never be a hunter or a warrior. Can’t I just learn from you and be a healer for the rest of my life?”

Mo’at fixed you with an astute gaze and she narrowed her eyes at you, “You can and will be a great healer, Seyla. But Iknimaya is a rite of passage that all Omatikaya individuals must pass. You need to tame an ikran or how will you travel? You’ll never fly otherwise and you are too grown now to be a pillion passenger on another’s ikran.”

With a resigned huff, you slung your pouch across your torso, preparing to depart for the evening when Mo’at called out to you again.

“Just stay back for a while today. I told Neteyam to meet you here at eclipse. I figured it would be good for the two of you to reacquaint yourselves with each other a bit before you he starts your training tomorrow.”

Self-conscious flutters erupted in your belly.

Of course, you knew you would be spending a lot of time with Neteyam in the coming while since he would be mentoring you, but the timid part of you had thought you would not need to deal with your nerves around this until tomorrow. You did what was requested of you nonetheless.

Neteyam was prompt, stepping into the healers’ hut within moments of eclipse’s onset. Your heart had been racing steadily behind your sternum in anxious anticipation, but the sight of him made it skip a few beats. Eywa help you, he was so attractive… How were you ever going to be able to concentrate on your learnings being mentored by him?

You immediately rose to your feet from where you were knelt out of respect at his arrival. Dipping your knees slightly and with a bow of your head, you greeted him, “Oel ngati kameie, Neteyam. My name is-”

Neteyam interrupted you before you could finish, “Seyla. Yes, I know. I remember you.”

Your head snapped up in surprise at his words. His smile was kind and his eyes gentle as he regarded you and you blinked, lost for words, for several moments before you found them again, “Oh, you do? We never really spoke much.”

You were six years his junior. Too young to have been in any of the social circles Neteyam had made his way around in. Any interactions you had shared were fleeting and often just greetings in passing. He was as good as the crown prince of the clan, so naturally you had known who he was. It would not have been unfair though to assume, especially with your quiet nature, that he did not notice you.

A jovial grin danced across Neteyam’s lips, the tips of his canines peaking charmingly out from his behind his upper lip, “The girl with the pretty braids. Though I see you don’t wear them as long anymore.”

The peal of laughter that bubbled up from within you was involuntary, sparked by pure delight at the realisation that he did indeed remember you. You had worn your hair much longer as a girl, your tresses trailing in luscious locks down to your hips. Your hair had been one of the beautiful things about you, and you and your mother had spent countless hours crafting new beads and braiding them into your hair in intricate styles. The length had unfortunately become inconvenient as you grew older, so the ends of your braids were now lopped shorter to brush the small of your back.

A flush heated your cheeks under his scrutiny and your laughter died down. Clearing your throat clumsily, you nodded, “Yeah, that’s me.”

A hoarse chortle emanated from behind you and you remembered Mo’at was still present. Her husky voice piped up, her eyes twinkling with some enigmatic reason in their depths, “You need to look after this one, Neteyam. Her hands work miracles with the ill and injured. She is gifted with healing, both physical and spiritual. And you of all people should understand how exceptional that is.”

The tsahìk’s words were high praise and you felt the flush on your face intensify. Her words reminded you suddenly of the reason for your meeting with Neteyam in the first place though, and you quickly added, “I will work hard as your trainee. I’m not particularly athletic or strong, but I’ll always try my best. I don’t wait to fail again and I don’t want to bring you shame as my mentor, so I’ll pass my rites or die trying.”

Neteyam appeared taken aback by the candour with which you spoke and the severity of your tone. He gave a slow cock of his head to the side, his eyes calculating while you fought hard not to squirm at his silent assessment.

His assessing gaze only lasted several moments before the comfortable warmth of his usual expression returned. His voice was benevolent when he spoke, “No one is going to die trying anything. We will go at your pace. I may push you at times, but if it gets too much, you are at every right to voice this to me.”

Neteyam’s words were a reassurance and the thundering of your heart began to subside. Mustering up what little dregs of courage you possessed from within yourself, you lifted your head to peer into his eyes and found them void of any judgement. Their green-gold depths were open and sincere, and you perceived also a silent promise of security in them.

The lump forming in your throat hindered you from finding your word, however, and your response to Neteyam was a mute nod.

He spoke again then, the baritone of his voice rumbling delightfully through you, “I swear to you as your mentor that I will keep you safe. Your safety is my priority and you will have the protection of my body too if need be.”

Neteyam’s masculine pledge of security made parts of you squeeze in feminine appreciation, and you berated yourself internally for letting his appeal distract you.

 You watched as he extended a hand out to you and you placed your hand in his to shake it, only to feel him raise the back of it to his lips instead in a gentle kiss against your knuckles.

*** FLASHBACK END ***

A stray ember spat from the bonfire and sailed through the air towards you. You hissed and slapped at your arm where the ember made blistering contact with your bare skin. The heat of the fire suddenly felt stifling and you got to your feet, intent on heading somewhere quieter where you could be alone with your thoughts.

Great Mother, you missed him already. You were going to miss him so much.

Feminine laughter reached you and the points of your ears swivelled in that direction, your eyes following suit a moment later. You spotted one of the female warriors, Penina, giggling while she clasped on to Neteyam’s forearm as the troupe of warriors continued in their conversation. She raised herself onto the balls of her feet to whisper something in his ear before she pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. Neteyam turned his head and gave Penina a sly smile in response.

You turned away quickly, not wanting to witness anything more. You should have clung on tighter to your heart while you still had it.

A sharp stab of sadness pricked in your chest and you silently chastised yourself for being so foolish. Neteyam was the future olo’eyktan for goodness sake. He had his pick of the females and he could court who he liked. You had known this day would come; the day when your success would mean losing his company.

Looking around you, you saw that everyone else was engrossed in their carousing and it allowed you slip away unhindered. Padding towards the appealing tranquillity of the woodland glade that surrounded the clan’s new Hometree, you found yourself a patch of soft moss amongst the bioluminescent eyaye ferns and settled yourself there.

Taking deep breaths through your nostrils, you closed your eyes and surrendered yourself to the sounds of the night; the soft pattering of water from the nearby cascades; the chirruping of insects and the occasional calls of a troop of syaksyuk in the lush canopy overhead. Beating back the soreness in your heart, you willed yourself to pray to the Great Mother, to be grateful and thankful for your achievement.

However, your mind did not appear to want to co-operate and the painful image of Penina kissing Neteyam’s cheek flashed through your consciousness again.

Being mentored by Neteyam was both your greatest blessing and your greatest curse.

After that first meeting with Neteyam, you had only gone from strength to strength under his guidance. He was a kind but firm tutor who held an unwavering belief in your abilities, despite the fact that you did not share that same confidence. He pushed you to your limits, but never beyond them and like any good mentor, he knew when to reward you with praise and when to be more critical.

You should have known you were a lost cause from the moment he had sworn to protect you during that first meeting. You should have been more careful. You should have guarded your heart with the constant reminder that he was not yours and never would be no matter how much you felt drawn to him during your lessons.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Neteyam stood at your back, his stance almost a mirror of yours as he adjusted your shooting form; legs positioned firmly apart, back straight with a strong core, bowstring drawn as you took aim at the target in the distance between the thick trunks of the trees. Your aim and accuracy had strengthened considerably in the weeks training under Neteyam. Tomorrow, you would attempt again the first rite of making a clean kill.

It was difficult to concentrate when you could feel the heat of his body radiating off him and feel his warm breaths tickling the point of one of your ears. The heat of one of his hands seared against the skin of your hip as he steadied you and the fingertips of his other hand supported the wrist of your bow arm. Unable to take your eyes off the target to confirm your suspicion for yourself, you also swore to the Great Mother that the tuft of his tail was delicately caressing the calf of your back leg.

“Whenever you’re ready, loose the arrow.” Neteyam whispered, and the purr of his voice sent a shudder through you that you hoped he did not notice.

Target in focus, you narrowed your eyes and when the instinctive urge hit, you let your arrow fly. It hurtled through the trees to embed itself dead centre of the mounted target amongst your previous attempts. The thrill of success washed through you once more and you gave a little skip on the spot in celebration.

“Seysonìltsan (well done)!” Neteyam cheered, looping an arm around your waist and pressing his cheek to yours in an affectionate nuzzle that made your face and neck flush, “You’re all set for tomorrow. You’re going to be just fine.”

Your initial joy at your success with target practice soon clouded over when you contemplated the final part of making a clean kill: A dagger through the creature’s heart to return its soul to Eywa; the part that you had failed to complete on your own during your first attempt. Rini had been forced to end the creature’s life for you.

The sound of the yerik’s pained, bleating cries still haunted your ears to this day. You had felt rotten being responsible for the arrow that had impaled its side. You had not wanted to cause it anymore pain…

Sensing the change in your mood, Neteyam ran a gentle hand down your side, “Hey, come back to me. What are you thinking about?”

Chewing on your bottom lip, ears twitching, your nervous eyes flitted to his, “Did Rini tell you why I failed this rite last time?”

A frown marred his handsome face and he shook his head, his concern evident as he snaked an arm around your shoulders to pull you against his side.

The soothing strokes of his thumb against your upper arm coaxed you to continue, “My arrow’s aim was true and I managed to impale the yerik. But I couldn’t end its life with my dagger. I don’t like to hurt things. It was in pain and all I wanted to do was make the pain stop. Of course, the pain would’ve stopped once I ended its life but the thought of stabbing it was too much for me to bear. Rini had to do it in the end. I was too weak to.”

Your last words were uttered with all the dejection that you felt and the tears of your shame stung in your downcast eyes. Something so simple, so natural in the cycle of life that all creatures shared in the Great Mother, and you could not do it. You were weak.

You felt warm fingers grasp your chin gently and your face was tilted up to meet Neteyam’s. Your eyes remained shuttered, however, and you cursed the two fat tears that squeezed their way from behind your closed lids to roll down your cheeks.

“Seyla, look at me.” Neteyam implored you, and it was only the sheer tenderness in his tone that made you brave enough to obey. Your breath was stolen from you as you met his striking eyes and his expression was full of compassion, “You’re not weak for finding it difficult to end a life. Your calling is to heal, to restore life even in the direst of circumstances when all seems lost. There is great strength in that. Empathy is not weakness. You have a big heart and I don’t want to hear you call yourself weak ever again.”

Swiping your tears from your face with the back of one hand, you sniffled softly and nodded. But your chin wobbled along with your voice as you posed your question, “What if I can’t do it tomorrow? What if I fail again?”

“Then I’ll guide your hand and we’ll do it together. And after you’ve completed your rites, you’ll never have to hunt again if you don’t want to.”

*** FLASHBACK END ***

And he had guided your hand in the end.

Neteyam’s bigger hand had enveloped yours to steady its trembling amid the bleating cries of the yerik you had felled, and he had given you the strength, the driving force that you needed, to complete your first rite.

Afterward, your adrenalin and your distress had all come to a head and he had held you in his arms where you were both crouched, comforting you as you cried.

That had been the first of your successful firsts, as you called them, and Neteyam had been there every single step of the way after that. Your first kill; your first climb to Iknimaya where you successfully tamed your ikran; your first flight; your first talioang hunt; and your first Dream Hunt. It was always his eyes that you sought out first at the end of each achievement, and your heart had always soared to find his gaze waiting to receive yours.

You were not even aware of it at first, that your heart no longer beat inside the confines of your chest. Then one day as Neteyam had graced you with another one of his magnetic smiles, you realised that your heart now beat in the hold of his hands. He had swindled it from you without you even knowing it and now it was too late to get it back.

Today had been the first day in many moons – almost seven – that you did not arise in the morning and head out to meet Neteyam. You were one of the people now. There was no more training to be had and you had felt the loss of his presence keenly during the day today.

You had thanked Neteyam last night, for all his guidance and perseverance that had led to your success. You had been weary from the exertion of your Dream Hunt, your mind still foggy from the psychoactive effects of the glow worm one had to consume as part of the rite. However, you remembered murmuring your thanks to him and falling asleep against the blissful warmth of his chest as he had carried you home to your family’s alcove.

He must feel it too… You thought to yourself. That magnetism that pushed and pulled between the two of you, surely it was not simply one-sided on your part?

Neteyam had never said anything, had never given any indication to you of wanting to address the bond that had grown between the two of you. All the smiles, the embraces, the tender nuzzles, the deliberate touches and the gentle brushing of his fingers against your skin; all the almost kisses; had you imagined it all? Did your lovesick brain infer more than there actually was to all of it?

“What are you doing here?”

The voice at your back startled you out of your skin and you jumped with an unintentional yelp.

Neteyam’s deep laughter reverberated loudly in the serenity of the glade around you and you turned to swat at the calf of one of his legs, your tail lashing crossly behind you at being alarmed. He moved to settle himself on the moss next to you and you shuffled over to make room for him where the moss was its plushest.

“What have I always told you about watching your back?” Neteyam clucked playfully, reaching out to poke you in the ribs lightly.

You recoiled from the ticklish jab, unable to stop the giggle that escaped you despite the frown you still wore due to his previous action, “I don’t really think anything dangerous will sneak up on me whilst I’m on home-ground. So you’ll forgive me, karyu (teacher), for letting my guard down.”

“You don’t think I’m dangerous?” There was a mischievous glint in Neteyam’s eyes and his tone was cheeky as he regarded you.

Oh, you knew Neteyam could be dangerous with his imposing stature and warriors’ body, corded with powerful muscle that guaranteed brute strength in a wrestling match, and promised carnal delight for a woman caged within his hold in a very different kind of match. The explicit nature of your last thought surprised you and you hoped the furious blush staining your cheeks was not obvious in the dim light of eclipse.

“Seriously though, I know you’re not one for crowds and carousing, but what are you doing hiding out here?” Neteyam queried again, and sincerity coloured his tone this time.

“Everything just got a bit much. And I’m still tired from yesterday, I think. I just wanted somewhere quiet to reflect.” You muttered softly.

The familiar musk of his scent tantalised your nose and you took a discreet inhale, savouring the comfort it brought you while you also tried simultaneously to embed it into the deepest recesses of your memory. You were not going to be around Neteyam much anymore. You had healers’ duties to attend to and he had duties as future clan leader to attend to. That certainly made for quite a lot of distance.

Another twinge of sadness pulled at you and you kept your gaze on your folded knees, unable to look at him. Wanting to deflect and distract yourself from the sombre mood that was threatening to overwhelm you, you parroted his first question back at him, “I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back with the others, enjoying the party? You seemed to be quite engaged with the warriors before.”

“I saw you sneak away and I figured I’d check in with you. This is technically your party after all, to celebrate your rebirth. You sure you don’t want to head back out there? There are quite a few people who want to congratulate you.” Neteyam cajoled.

“Not right now. I’ll come back in a bit. You go on though. I’m OK, you’ve seen that no danger has befallen me.” Your attempt to be jovial fell flat even to your own ears and you felt Neteyam shift beside you, lowering his head to try and catch your eye.

“Seyla, what’s wrong? You’re upset. Has someone said something to you tonight? Hurt you? Tell me what happened and I’ll deal with them.”

Neteyam’s concern and immediate oath to defend you was moving. It was wonderful to know he still cared deeply for you despite the conclusion of your mentor-mentee relationship. His devotion to the people he cared about was one of the many things you loved about him.

Great Mother, you loved him. You were in love with him.

The sentiment threatened to choke you and you swallowed it down painfully. You were determined to keep your composure. You did not want to cry tonight in front of Neteyam, not when it was a night of celebration for you as well as for him as your mentor. You would look like an absolute ingrate and you were not about to admit to him the real reason for your melancholy either.

“Nothing untoward has happened. No one has said anything or done anything.” The words were forced from your throat and you realised with mounting horror that you were failing miserably at trying to sound normal. Your voice was unsteady and unbidden tears were pooling in your eyes.

Neteyam’s brow furrowed uneasily at your apparent distress and he shifted to face you. His large hands encircled each of your upper arms, rubbing gently in an attempt to mollify whatever turmoil you clearly felt but seemed reluctant to tell him of. “Shh it’s alright, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but you know you can tell me anything, right?”

A choked sob left you and you pawed in frustration at your wet eyes, lying through your teeth, “Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m just really tired and out of sorts. That glow worm really did a number on me.” You pushed at his forearms gently, faking a smile and urging him to return to the merriment of the party, “Go, honestly. Don’t let me ruin your evening.”

Neteyam appeared utterly unconvinced, which was testament to how well he had come to know you; how easily he could read you. He fidgeted uncomfortably then and you mused to yourself how uncharacteristic that was of him when he was usually so self-assured.

He took a slow and measured inhale, one of his hands leaving you to scratch nervously at the back of his head, “I actually wanted to talk to you about something. Something important.”

The downturned points of your ears pricked upwards with interest, his last two words piquing your curiosity, “What is it? Is it bad news?”

By Eywa, please let it not be bad news. What could be so important that he needed to speak to you right now?

Neteyam took in your worried expression, your beautiful doe-eyes shiny with emotion, and he chuckled lightly, “No, it’s not bad news. Well, it could be bad news for me, but that depends on your viewpoint on the matter.”

“What do you mean?” You queried and you both watched and felt as he took your smaller hands in his, his fingers squeezing and rubbing your palms gently comfortingly.

Licking his lips and swallowing the knot of nerves in his throat, Neteyam began to explain slowly, “You know my position within the clan as my father’s successor.”

“Yes.”

“You know that I will lead this clan as olo’eyktan when my father’s time in that position ends.”

“Yes.”

“Well, every olo’eyktan needs a tsahìk.”

You blinked perplexedly up at him. His three statements appeared rather matter-of-fact and ‘old news’ to you. It was nothing you did not know and nothing you were not already aware of. You were quite puzzled as to why Neteyam was bringing this up now. “Sorry, I don’t think I’m following you. I know all this already.”

A nervous chuckle left Neteyam then and he ran a hand down his face. He knew he was being cryptic and it was the result of his own nerves that caused him to be so. He could see you had no idea where he was going with this and he took the opportunity to tease one last time, “Have you never wondered why I was assigned as your mentor?”

You perked up at the question. Ah! This question you could relate to, “Yes! I wonder about this all the time actually. There are many other skilled hunters or warriors who could’ve trained me. I don’t understand why they designated you. Surely your skills would’ve been better used elsewhere.”

“It was my grandmother’s decision specifically. As tsahìk, she interprets the will of our Great Mother. She determines the best candidates for the future leaders of this clan.” Neteyam continued, his tone measured and he watched carefully for your reaction while you took in his words, “Seyla, you were her choice of tsakarem (future tsahìk). Of course, it was all dependent on you passing your rites, which is why no one could tell you this fact. Not even me. She assigned me as your mentor not just because of my skills, but because she wanted to see if we would get along.”

“W-What?” Your heart was galloping in your chest, your brain reeling as it tried to process the information you had just been enlightened about.

“It was such a hard secret for me to keep.” Neteyam appeared a little sheepish then and he chortled, bringing both of your hands up to his lips to press several kisses to your knuckles, “Your heart is so pure and you’re so beautiful. I grew fonder and fonder of you the more I got to know you. I wanted you to pass your rites and I knew you would with time if I could build your confidence. Now you have, and I’m so proud of you.”

A sudden burst of clarity struck you as Neteyam’s words began to sink in. Everything that had not made sense before made perfect sense now: The reason the future olo’eyktan of all people had been assigned to mentor you; the reason Neteyam had been so forward with his affection during your training; the reason Mo’at had always been so welcoming towards you learning from her, despite the unofficial mantle you had once held for so long as the ‘flop’ of the clan who may never pass your rites. There had been a bigger picture all along.

“Your grandmother wants me to be your tsahìk?”

Neteyam nodded and he reached out to cup your cheek, “Yes, if you’ll accept the position and accept me as your betrothed.”

Something dazzling white and wonderfully warm pierced through the cloud of your melancholy. You looked at Neteyam’s face, really looked at him and at the future he was presenting you with. You, tsakarem! Neteyam’s betrothed and future mate. You would stand at his side, tsahìk and olo’eyktan…

It was such an about-turn of events from what you felt moments ago that you could hardly believe it. But the sheer joy that burst within your heart was so welcome and in that moment, all was right with the world. It felt like the misshapen pieces of your wounded pride that had taken a beating after your past failures had reshaped themselves and found their place.

Beaming at Neteyam through glassy eyes that were now filling with happy tears, you laughed and the sound was bright in your ears.

Neteyam leaned in to nuzzle your cheek tenderly, his warm breath ghosting across the smooth skin there, “Please say you’ll accept and be mine. You are gifted and blessed by Eywa, and it would be an honour to have you as my tsahìk.”

“Yes. Yes, I accept.” Your giggles were wet and your arms instinctively curled around Neteyam’s neck as he lifted you in his arms to your knees in a triumphant embrace.

Neteyam drew back then, his face mere inches from yours. He nuzzled your nose lightly, “May I kiss you?”

With parted lips and a bashful nod, you absently thought to yourself that you were yet again about to experience another one of your firsts with Neteyam. Your first kiss.

His lips met yours in a tentative meld at first, the moist brush of lips an entirely new sensation to you. Neteyam pressed forward again after, claiming your lips this time in a deliberate sweep of lips and tongue that stole your breath from you and sent a spark of desire coursing through your veins.

Your earlier melancholy seemed lightyears away now in the face of what had just happened, and your heart sighed in contentment at the uplifting of its grief that had come with Neteyam’s declaration.

Not wanting to scare you with his fervent ardour, Neteyam pulled away a little to rest his forehead against yours, “By Eywa, you don’t know how long I have wanted to do that.”

“I see you, Neteyam.”

“I see you, yawntu (beloved).” He returned the sentiment, smiling as he delivered a couple more chaste kisses. He sat back on his haunches then to properly look at you, his expression turning serious then, “Will you tell me why were you upset before? I’m just concerned, that’s all.”

Rolling your lips together in mild embarrassment, you outed the truthful answer to his question, “I was sad that I wouldn’t see you every day anymore. I was missing you. But it seems I don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

Several emotions flitted their way across Neteyam’s face; surprise, compassion and then satisfaction. With a wayward smirk, he purred, “Our daytimes may be spent apart now, but our evenings, well, we’ll have to fill those, won’t we? I’m looking forward to getting to know my betrothed in a more personal manner.”

Neteyam surged forward to kiss you again, more forcefully this time, and your head craned backward under the pleasurable plundering of his mouth. You moaned lightly and when a mistimed re-angling of your head caused your teeth to clack against his, you pulled away self-consciously with an apology, “Sorry, I’m new to this. Looks like you’re still going to have to teach me, karyu.”

The impish grin that Neteyam cast you sent hot shivers down your spine and his eyes glinted with the promise of the best kind of wickedness. He placed slow kisses to your face; one to your chin, one to your mouth and then to each of your eyes before he murmued, “Oh, there is so much that I plan to teach you, yawntu. And we have a lifetime to explore all that.”

He punctuated his words with a searing, open-mouthed kiss to the column of your neck and the suction he applied there made your toes curl into the plush moss beneath you.

With your eyes closed and your mouth slack-jawed from the pleasure his lips were wreaking where he worshipped your neck and chest, you knew without a doubt that today was just the beginning of the first of many firsts with Neteyam.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~*** Author's Note:

If you've made it this far, THANK YOU for reading! <3 How did I do with this? It was very tricky to write at points, as I had to be mindful of the POV and the pronoun usage.

Leave me a line with your thoughts! <3 Could you relate to the protagonist in this? Did you feel what she felt? All the angst, her shyness, the fluff at the end...

On a side note, I love Mo'at always playing matchmaker. I always seem to write her with some cheek in her personality.