#omaticaya

you don’t remember a time before pandora.

the forest has always been there in your memories. the hum of insects at dusk, the way the leaves glowed beneath your bare feet, the smell of rain clinging to everything. you learned the paths before you learned to read, learned which branches could hold your weight, which plants to avoid, which ones neteyam swore were “harmless” right before you proved him wrong.

neteyam had always been there too, along with kiri, lo’ak, tuk and spider of course.

you grew up at his side, trailing after him and his siblings like it was the most natural thing in the world. he taught you how to climb when your human hands slipped, how to keep quiet when the forest went still, how to laugh when you fell instead of crying. sometimes he carried you on his back when you got tired, grumbling the whole time but never once leaving you behind.

you were different, you always knew that, smaller, softer, human. but with him, it never felt like something that mattered. you belonged because he said you did. because the sullys said you did.

those days feel impossibly distant now.

you remember the tension creeping in before everything changed. the way the adults spoke in hushed voices, the way neteyam stopped laughing so easily. you didn’t understand gravity of it then, only that something was wrong. that the forest felt heavier. that goodbye came too fast.

one day, they were there.

the next, they were gone.

the forest felt wrong after that. too big. too quiet. you still walked the same paths, still slept beneath the same stars, but everything felt tilted, like pandora itself had shifted without him in it. you told yourself you were fine. you had to be.

norm and max stayed.

they became your anchors in a way you hadn’t expected. the lab, once overwhelming, all blinking lights and foreign sounds, slowly turned into something familiar. safe. you still visited the clan occasionally, although no way near as much as you once had. you learned how to calibrate equipment, how to catalogue samples, how to keep your hands steady even when your chest felt tight with missing someone you weren’t sure you were allowed to miss this much.

you grew up between microscopes and memory.

years passed like that. quietly. you traded scraped knees and borrowed na’vi clothes for data pads and human fabric that felt strange against skin used to vines and leaves. you still visited the forest, pandora was home, always would be, but you were changing, just as much as everything else.

and then one day..

“they’re back!”

the words didn’t register at first.

your hands stilled over the lab bench. the hum of machinery faded into a dull roar in your ears. they’re back. which meant..

no. you didn’t let yourself think it. not yet.

when they arrived, it was chaos. voices overlapping, na’vi gathering, the air thick with emotion and relief and something heavier underneath. you hung back near the edge, heart pounding so hard you were sure everyone could hear it.

and then you saw him.

neteyam stood just behind his father, taller than you remembered, broader, scarred in ways that made your chest ache. the boy who you remembered to be, was gone. in his place stood a warrior, quiet, alert, eyes sharper than before.

his gaze swept the crowd.

and then it landed on you.

for a split second, something cracked in his composure. not enough for anyone else to notice, but you did. you always had. his eyes widened, just barely, like he was seeing a ghost.

you weren’t the same either.

you saw it in the way his gaze lingered, uncertain, like he was trying to reconcile who you were now with the memory of the human kid who used to sit beside him, legs swinging, asking too many questions.

too much time had passed. too many things left unsaid.

but he was here.

he was here and it felt surreal.

you couldn’t move, feet rooted to the ground and you observed the surroundings. around you, people moved, embraces, voices, relief spilling out in bursts but all of it blurred at the edges. all you could see was him.

however, you broke eye contact first.

it wasn’t dramatic, no rush, no stumble, just a quiet decision made. this wasn’t your moment. it shouldn’t be. he’d just returned from years of hiding, fighting, surviving. his family was there, his clan, people who had mourned him as much as they’d waited. whatever this tight, aching thing was in your chest didn’t get to come before that.

so you stepped back.

you slipped through the edge of the crowd, boots soft against the forest floor, the sounds of reunion fading behind you. laughter, choked voices, someone crying openly. it felt wrong to intrude on it with everything you didn’t know how to say. you told yourself you were being sensible. kind, even. he deserved time. space.

you didn’t want to be selfish. and even more, maybe those feelings you felt years ago were one sided. maybe neteyam didn’t feel the same way you did.

the lab welcomed you back with sterile light and familiar hums. too quiet compared to the forest, but steady. you busied yourself with anything you could reach, data logs, recalibrations, a half-finished report you’d already rewritten twice. your hands worked on muscle memory alone, because your mind kept drifting back to the way his eyes had widened when he saw you.

hours passed.

max and norm both questioned why you hadn’t gone to greet them all yet, but you didn’t have a proper answer.

you were bent over a console, pretending very hard to read numbers that refused to make sense, when a shadow crossed the doorway.

you didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

the air shifted, subtle, instinctive, the way it always had around him.

“you didn’t come say hi,” neteyam said.

his voice was deeper now. rougher. it sent a warm feeling through your body.

you turned slowly, schooling your expression into something neutral, professional. safe. “you just got back,” you said, like it explained everything. “i figured you’d want to be with your family… your clan.”

for a moment, he just watched you. really watched you. not like before.

“i looked for you,” he said quietly.

“you had a lot of people looking for you,” you reply casually. “i thought… you’d want time with them first.”

neteyam exhales through his nose, something between a huff and a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. he steps closer, careful, like he’s not sure if you’ll bolt if he moves too fast.

neteyam eyes flicker over you, slow, deliberate, taking in the way you’ve changed. his tail twitches behind him, restless.

"you’re taller," he blurts out, voice rough. his gaze lingering on your legs, your waist, the curve of your lips.

you swallow hard.

“taller.” that’s all he says? after years? your fingers tighten around the edge of the console, grounding yourself. "and you’re… broader." the words slip out before you can stop them, your traitorous eyes skimming over his chest, the new scars mapping his skin like stories he never got to tell you.

a beat of silence.

his lips quirk. just barely. "you noticed."

your face burns. “damn him”

neteyam steps closer, the scent of him curling around you. too close. your pulse stutters when his tail sways, brushing your thigh. accidentally? you doubt it.

"you left," you blurt, hating how small your voice sounds.

his amusement fades. "i didn’t have a choice."

"You could’ve sent something, tried to communicate with me.” you muttered.

“it was hard when you all left, the only family i felt like i had.”

"i tried." his jaw tenses. "messages got intercepted. people got hurt."

you bit your lip.

neteyam exhales, running a hand through his braids. "you cut your hair." he changes the subject.

you resist the urge to reach for the shorter strands. "it got in the way."

he hummed, his gaze drops to your neck, exposed now. "i liked it long."

“it’s not that much shorter.” you replied.

the air between you thickens, is it awkwardness or just tension? you really can’t tell.

just then, lo’ak swings through the door unceremoniously, his carefree attitude cutting through the thick tension in the air. he takes a moment to take in the scene. neteyam and you are standing close, conversation halted in its tracks. lo’ak lifts an eyebrow, noticing something is off, but his usual smirk remains intact. "you two look serious." he quips, leaning against the console with ease.

neteyam takes a subtle step back, his expression guarded. "we’re just talking." his voice is casual, but there's a hint of irritation.

lo'ak chuckles, his gaze flickering between them. "just talking? looks like it was getting a little heated in here."

“not really.” you butted in, “he was just mentioning my hair.”

lo’ak’s smirk widens at your response, clearly not buying what you said. "right," he drawls, crossing his arms.

neteyam shoots him a glare, tail flicking in annoyance.

lo'ak just shrugs, unfazed. "anyway, dad wants you. something about perimeter checks." he glances at you again, then back at neteyam. "unless you're busy…?”

neteyam exhales sharply through his nose. "i'm coming."

as he moves to follow lo'ak, his fingers brush against yours deliberately, before he pulls away completely. the brief contact sends a wave of heat to your cheeks.

it was innocent enough, but being human on pandora, you never really received any sort of attention from boys, let alone contact.

lo'ak, oblivious to the silent exchange, claps neteyam on the back. "great! because dad’s in one of his moods..”

the door slides shut behind them, leaving you alone in the lab.

later that night, you couldn’t sleep.

your bedroom felt suffocating, so you slipped outside, letting pandora’s night air cool your skin. the glowing flora pulses softly underfoot as you wander deeper into the trees, trying and failing not to think about neteyam.

you felt like you were a kid again, before the events unravelled.

just you and the forest.

the only difference being you in your human pyjamas, rather than the loincloth and top you used to wear.

a twig snaps behind you, pulling you out of your thoughts.

you turn, pulse jumping. only to find neteyam standing there, his silhouette haloed by bioluminescence.

“you followed me," you accuse.

he steps closer, his gaze dark. "yeah." no excuses. no pretenses.

it caught you off guard.

“i was heading over to see you, then saw you leaving so i followed behind.” he replied.

you simply observed.

it made sense.

he made his way over to you, ducking through branches and other greenery.

his fingers trace the edge of your jaw, his touch feather-light, maddening. “i thought about you, you know?” “every damn night under those same stars. wondering if you still looked up at them. if you… missed me."

you gulp as you watch him.

his thumb presses against your bottom lip, dragging it down just slightly. his pupils are blown wide, dark with something raw.

"and when missing you got too much?" he leans in, his next words whispered against your skin, “ i touched myself imagining it was your hands on me."

your stomach clenches, heat pooling low.

neteyam’s words hung thickly in the air, the intensity of his gaze making you shiver. you were short for words, shocked at his sudden confession.

your heart hammered in your chest, a mixture of desire and uncertainty swirling inside you. you swallowed hard, trying to collect yourself before responding. "neteyam, i..." your voice trailed off, uncertain of what to say, but he took another step closer, his tail wrapping around your waist almost possessively.

his hand slid up to cradle your face, his touch sending sparks across your skin.

"sometimes..." his thumb traced the shape of your bottom lip, his voice low and raspy. "sometimes i’d close my eyes, pretend you were with me."

His eyes moved over you, the intensity of his gaze making your heart skip a beat.

"and i’d think about you in those moments... how I would touch you, if you were there."

his breath warmed your neck as he leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “i’d imagine you here… like this… under the stars we both looked up at.”

a shiver raced down your spine as his lips brushed the shell of your ear.

“remember that hollow in the cliffs? where we used to hide from lo’ak during games?” his voice was rough, low. “i’d imagine me lying there at night and picture you beside me.. under me.”

your breath hitched.

“i’d imagine pushing your shirt up slow,” he murmured, one hand sliding along your waist, fingers teasing beneath the fabric, “feeling how soft your skin is, how warm. i used to wonder if you'd arch into my touch like this…” he pressed his palm flat against the small of your back and pushed, just enough to make you gasp.

“and i always imagined,” he whispered against your jaw, “that when I finally kissed you here, really kissed you.. you’d taste even sweeter than i imagined.”

his hips shifted forward, the slightest grind, and a low sound escaped him.

“that’s when i would of slipped my hand down,” his thumb hooked into the waistband of your pyjamas, “you wouldn’t stop me.”

you let out a small whimper.

“i dreamt about feeling how wet you get for me,” he admitted hoarsely. “wondered if those quiet little noises would be enough to drive me wild after years of waiting.” he nuzzled into the crook of your neck.

"you kept me up late," he murmured, teeth grazing your skin.

his mouth moved lower, along your collarbone, nipping at it teasingly.

“teyam..” you whined quietly.

"shhh," he hushed, voice thick with want. his hips pressed firmer against yours, letting you feel every hard inch of him. "my little scientist... finally letting me taste what's been mine all along?"

his hand slid lower, past your hips, down to the back of your thigh and hooked it up around his waist. you gasped as he lifted you effortlessly, pinning you against the tree.

"i imagined this too," he growled into your ear. "you wrapped around me, just like that night by the waterfall when we were younger.”

you bit your lip as the memory came flooding back in, you forgot about that.

"i dreamed about making you cum under these stars," he whispered raggedly, tail curling tighter around your waist like a promise. "with my mouth on you.. my name on your lips..”

he finally dipped his hand beneath the hem of your pyjamas, soft fabric sliding aside and brushed one fingertip over damp heat.

he groaned low in his chest.

“shit.. no panties?”

“i.. i don’t wear any to bed.” you replied sheepishly.

he let out a rough, pleased noise. half-growl, half-laugh.

“good,” he breathed. “means I don’t have to tear anything off you.”

his finger dragged through your folds slowly, once, twice, making you whimper and arch against him. “you’re already so wet…”

“you made me wait years,” you gasped, fingers clutching at his shoulders. “of course I’m..” you let out a mewl, “ready for you..”

he smirked, adding pressure just where you needed it. “i used to dream about how tight you’d feel around my fingers… my cock.” he slid one deep inside with no warning, slow, deep, and your head fell back against the tree as a moan tore from your throat.

“like that?” he purred.

you nodded ferociously as his thumb found your clit, circling with torturous precision. "tell me," he murmured, voice thick, "how many nights did you lie awake thinking of me?"

you cried out, hips jerking forward. "n-neteyam!”

"answer me." he added pressure, relentless. "did you touch yourself? imagine it was my hand? my mouth?"

a broken sob escaped you. "yes!..” you whined. “almost nightly!..” you followed up.

he continued pumping his fingers in, out, in, out, for a good few minutes.

his fingers curled inside you just right and suddenly, the world shattered. a sharp cry ripped from your throat as heat exploded low in your belly, waves of pleasure crashing through you as you came hard around his fingers, wet and trembling, your knees nearly giving out.

neteyam didn’t pull away. didn’t stop.

he held you through it, thumb still circling the bud gently as the tremors faded, watching your face with fascination.

he slowly slid his soaked fingers free, and without breaking eye contact, he brought them to his lips and sucked them clean.

your breath caught at the sight, the raw hunger in his eyes, as dropped to his knees in front of you.

his glowing eyes locked onto yours as he hooked your pyjama shorts around his fingers and yanked them down over trembling hips.

his nose brushed your inner thigh.

his hands slid up the underside of you knees, spreading your legs wider.

“look at her.. perfect.” he mumbled under his breath as he looked almost star-struck.

you watched, breath heaving, as he pressed light, worshiping kisses up the inside of your thigh, his eyes locked onto yours.

he looked wrecked, just from watching you cum.

his breath was hot against your skin. "you’re so beautiful," he murmured.

then he exhaled low, like a prayer, and lowered his mouth to your cunt, still pulsing from your release. he lapped up at your cunt with slow, deep strokes of his tongue.

"you taste even better than I dreamed," he groaned against you.

your fingers fisted into his hair as he circled your clit with his tongue, before he moved further down and began teasing your entrance.

he didn't let up. just held you steady with strong hands on your hips and drank from you like a starved man.

he groaned against your heat, the sound vibrating through you. “so sweet… mine.”

every flick of his tongue was deliberate. slow at first, savoring, like he had years to make up for. then deeper, hungrier. his nose brushing your clit as he devoured you with quiet desperation.

you gasped, back arching off the tree as his thumbs spread you wider and ‘yes..’ “there!” that wicked swirl right over your most sensitive spot.

“you gonna come again?” he murmured between licks, voice rough with need. “right on my face?”

You could only whimper in return, but it was enough.

because neteyam growled low in his chest and dove back in like a man possessed, licking deep into your folds, circling your clit with maddening precision before sucking it gently into his mouth.

stars blurred above you. the forest pulsed beneath. and all that existed was this, him between your legs, the way his name broke from your lips like a prayer..

“neteyam… i’m.. i’m gonna..”

his ears twitched at the sound, and he redoubled his efforts, tongue swirling faster, sucking gently as one hand slipped beneath to cup your ass, pulling you even closer.

"again," he growled against you. "let me feel it baby..”

and when you came, shuddering violently against his mouth with a choked cry, he didn't stop.

he just moaned like it was him being rewarded.

the vibrations sent another shockwave through your oversensitive nerves, making your legs tremble.

finally, slowly, he pulled back, but only enough to press one soft kiss to your inner thigh.

then looked up at you, eyes glossy, swollen lips glistening with you..

"still not enough," he whispered, voice raw.

he rose in one fluid motion, closing the space between you again, your back to the tree, his body against yours.

you could feel him now. hard, thick, straining against his loincloth, pressed right where your body still pulsed from his mouth.

his lips found your neck, biting gently. "wanna be inside when you come again."

your breath hitched. "neteyam..."

"i know," he murmured, thumb brushing your swollen bottom lip. "too much? too fast?"

you shook your head desperately.

“no..”

he exhaled sharply through his nose, the closest thing to losing control you'd ever seen from him.

"good." his hand slid down to cup you possessively between your legs, one finger teasing at your entrance again.

he swiftly took off your top

your bare skin prickled as the cool night air caressed your chest.

he leaned in, lips skimming the shell of your ear. "you ever been with anyone else?"

your stomach fluttered nervously. "no..”

he smiled against your skin, satisfaction and relief pouring off him.

"good…" he whispered, his hand skimming up the front of your bare torso, creeping upwards towards your breasts.

"no one else got to touch you like this... did they? only me."

"only you…" you confirmed.

he groaned low, his mouth moving along your jaw, claiming more territory. "that’s right. you’re mine. only mine."

his hand found your thigh again. "put your leg around me."

you wrapped your leg around his hip, drawing him closer.

your heart stuttered as you felt just how hard your touch made him. neteyam inhaled sharply, his fingers digging into your thigh.

"that's it," he murmured, voice rough. "hold onto me."

you obeyed, grasping onto his shoulders, holding him tight. your body hummed with anticipation.

he pulled you even closer, grinding his hips against yours almost involuntarily with a shaky exhale. you could feel just how much you had affected him.

"missed you…" he murmured between kisses, his lips trailing along your neck. "all these years, i… imagined this. over and over again."

"i did too..." you whispered back.

he kissed you, slow and deep, it made your chest ache. not just desire, something more.

when he pulled back, his eyes searched yours under the soft glow of pandoran night.

his hands moved to the ties of his loincloth and in one smooth motion, freed himself.

you gasped at the sight. thick, proud, already glistening at the tip.

he guided himself to your entrance slowly.. teasingly.. letting just the head slide in as his thumb found your clit again.

"look at me," he demanded softly.

you obeyed as you held his gaze.

with a low groan that vibrated through both of you, he pushed forward inch by inch.. filling you completely until there was no space left between you.

you cried out, part pain, part overwhelming fullness as he stretched you for the first time, your body clenching around his girth.

he froze instantly. "hey… hey, look at me," he murmured, voice thick with concern and restraint. his thumb brushed your cheek as he stayed buried deep inside you, motionless, letting you adjust.

tears pricked your eyes.

"you're okay," he whispered against your lips. "i’ve got you. just breathe… for me."

you nodded shakily and took a breath in and then another, feeling yourself slowly relax around him.

“that’s it," he praised softly, kissing away a tear that slipped free. "take all of me."

and when you rolled your hips slightly, a quiet signal, he exhaled like it was agony and began to move.

slow at first, one deep thrust that made stars burst behind your eyelids, then another just as deliberate.

each one sent waves of pleasure spiraling through you until the line between pain and ecstasy blurred.

"neteyam…" your voice called out

he kissed you hard as his rhythm picked up, one hand gripping your hip to pull you onto him deeper with each stroke, the other tangled in yours above your head.

"i’m here," he muttered against your skin. "feel me?" he said as he pushed his much bigger hand against the bulge, disappearing and reappearing in your stomach with each thrust.

"i feel you... all of you," you gasped, nails raking down his back as he rolled his hips harder.

each thrust drove a moan from your throat, deeper, fuller than before. he was so deep inside you it felt like he was touching your soul.

"yeah? you take me so damn well," he growled, shifting slightly, his pelvis grinding against your clit with every powerful stroke. "mine.. only mine.."

you sobbed out his name as the pressure built again, tighter this time, hotter.

"that’s it," he whispered against your neck, his lips on your pulse point. "come for me, baby. i want to feel you.” he pulled back, looking down at you both, watching his cock slip in and out of your cunt.

“look at us,” he rasped, voice thick with awe and hunger. “you’re taking every inch..”

his thrusts turned shallow, rhythmic, just enough to grind against your clit with each roll of his hips. you whimpered, back arching as the pleasure coiled tighter, unbearable now.

“neteyam.. i’m.. i’m..”

one hand slid between you, rubbing firm circles over your swollen bud. “come on my cock. let me feel it.”

and when you shattered, your body clamped down around him in pulsing waves. he groaned like it was salvation.

“yes.. yes.. that’s it..” he panted against your neck as you trembled through the release.

but he didn’t stop moving.

just kept thrusting, deeper now, as if your pleasure had only fueled his need.

"i’m not gonna last..” he groaned, his mouth finding yours again. "not gonna last..”

you could feel his control slipping, his rhythm turning erratic, his breath coming rougher now as he chased his own release.

“then don’t,” you whispered against his lips, nails digging into his back. “i want you to cum inside me.. want to feel it..”

his hips stuttered at your words, like you'd stripped the last of his restraint away.

"shit..” he choked out, burying his face in your neck as his body tensed. "you're gonna make me..”

with a deep, guttural groan, he thrusts into you hard, once, twice and then stilled completely.

you felt it, he came inside you, each wave shuddering through his body and into yours.

he collapsed against you slightly, forehead pressed to your shoulder, breathing ragged and raw.

for long moments, there was only the sound of the forest breathing around you and your hearts beating in sync.

finally, he lifted his head just enough to look at you, eyes soft now.

he cupped your face, thumb brushing your sweaty forehead. "you okay?" he whispered, still out of breath.

you managed a nod, too spent to form words just yet.

he huffed a small laugh, lips finding your temple.

he pulled out slowly, gently and immediately wrapped his arms around you as your legs finally gave way. his warmth didn't leave you, not even for a second, as he lowered himself to the soft moss beneath, pulling you on top of him with care.

he sat with your back pressed to his chest, legs cradling yours, tail curling snugly around your waist.

one hand smoothed damp strands of hair from your face, the other rested low on your stomach, possessive and tender all at once.

"you're incredible," he murmured into your ear, pressing a kiss just behind it.

you leaned into him completely.

his voice dropped lower. "i should've done this years ago."

༻༺

hiii! i hope you guys enjoy this one of neteyam! as always, reblogs, likes and comments are very helpful and i appreciate all of you guys who choose to support my work!

“Kaltxì, Zalor,” she would reply, voice warm with an overabundance of joy. These days, [Y/N] felt like she couldn’t stop smiling, and while a part of it, she knew, was because Quaritch was officially dead as of four months ago, and the RDA was weaker than ever, [Y/N] knew the truth deep inside. 

“[Y/N]!” That was why. The moment she heard his voice, a comfortable warmth filled her chest, her stomach did a backflip, and she found it impossible to not turn around and look at him. He was a fair distance away, but she couldn’t help but let out a laugh at the speed he was moving, his dark blue skin standing out against the pale sand of Awa’atlu. “[Y/N]!” he hollered again, and finally [Y/N] waved at him.

“Hello, Neteyam,” she greeted, watching in amusement as he tripped on a sand dune, nearly sprawling out on all-fours, although he caught himself before any embarrassment could consume him. Still, at the sound of [Y/N]’s laughter, the boy looked up sheepishly, blushing just slightly.

Four months ago, when Quaritch was finally killed and the RDA was nearly defeated, Neteyam had nearly died. Every time she looked at that idiotic Sully-boy, she couldn’t help but let her eyes trail down to his shoulder where a nasty scar was left behind. A bullet, a sickening piece of the Sky-People’s artillery, had him seconds away from death, bleeding out in a cove, breathing the breaths they all thought would be his last.

[Y/N] had always been a quiet girl. She kept to herself, followed directions like good warriors do, didn’t make dangerous strides. But, that night, when she saw that boy, merely a good friend at the time, nearing death, it was as if she acted on instinct alone. She took him, before Toruk Mahkto or his mate had a chance to disagree, with Tsireya. The two girls, best friends since birth, practically flew across that ocean, [Y/N] holding Neteyam’s limp body steady aboard the ilu.

Tsireya, being the Tsakarem, knew what she was doing as soon as they reached her mother’s supplies. She worked in silence, [Y/N] helping whenever she was directed, and it felt like the world was about to cave in on itself. His shallowing breaths, the thickening puddle of blood, the dark sky outside full of nothing but fire.

Silently, [Y/N] prayed. With watchful, anxious eyes, she prayed to Eywa that Neteyam would be alright. That he would live, because if he didn’t… her stomach plummeted at the thought, and she pushed it away until it only lingered in the periphery of her mind.

An hour had passed, although it felt triple that for Tsireya and [Y/N], before the first warriors began to return. Many were injured, but none were seconds away from death in the same way Neteyam was. “[Y/N],” Tsireya had breathed out, shaky and unsure. “I need you to find my mother.”

When her friend had looked up at her after that, eyes glazed with fear, and worst of all, panic, [Y/N] knew she had to hurry. Tsireya was doing everything she could, but there eventually came a limit to her skills. For now, she could keep the Sully boy alive, but Ronal was the only one who could truly heal him.

“Where is Ronal?” she begged a warrior outside, a lovely boy named Rorín who was just around [Y/N]’s age. “Have you seen her?” When he only shrugged, helpless and injured, dread began to settle in [Y/N]’s chest.

She asked everyone gathered on the docks, ran to the incoming warriors to see if they had, at the very least, spotted her, but it was no use. Just when the tears pooled on her bottom lid, just when she felt that all hope was lost, she finally spotted them on the horizon. Two aqua blobs aboard their swimwings, weapons in hand.

“Tonowari!” She began waving her hands above her head, acting like a lunatic as she signalled to the couple. “Ronal!” Please, she begged, chest tightening, please notice me. And to her luck, she watched as Tonowari slowly pointed to her, redirecting his mate’s attention.

Relief flooded her body as they began moving in her direction, speed increasing tenfold the moment they realized [Y/N], practically an extra child with how close she was to Aonung and Tsireya, needed their help.

By the time they reached the docks, the Tsahik and Olo’eyktan of Awa’atlu were dismounting as soon as they could, feet carrying them to her panicked frame at a frantic speed. “[Y/N],” Tonowari reached out to grab her, checking her up and down for injuries, “what is the matter?”

“I am fine,” she admitted, voice raspy from the tears she’d shed over the past hour and a half. “I am fine, Tsireya is fine. But,” she turned to look at Ronal, desperation in her gaze, “we need your help.”

[Y/N] explained the situation to her on the way to her marui. Explained how the injury occurred, where on the body it was located, the speed in which they treated him, and lastly, explained that, while Tsireya was doing everything she could, they needed Ronal.

As they burst through the curtains, Ronal stifled a gasp at her daughter. Neteyam’s blood coated her arms, her supplies were scattered everywhere, and the boy was barely holding on from where he laid on her table. “Move,” Ronal ordered, and although the tone was demanding, her eyes told another story.

Tsireya backed away, bringing her hands to her face—to which [Y/N] quickly stepped in before they could even linger by her mouth, “We must go wash up,” she whispered gently—and small, quiet sobs wracked her body.

Ronal started working almost immediately, grabbing herbs and pastes and threads and needles, but, for a moment, she paused and looked back at the girls. Her girls. When she turned back to Neteyam’s body, she stated bluntly, “Leave me.” Then, a breath later, “I am proud of you both.”

[Y/N] could still feel the anxiety of that night. The way she and Tsireya shook as they washed the blood off their hands, their tears hot and silent. [Y/N], in desperation, clawed at his skin, trying to remove any sign that Neteyam was ever injured, but it was no use.

Aonung and Rotxo had found them first, their faces creased with concern as they crouched down, meeting their eyes as they asked, “[Y/N], Tsireya, what happened?” And, even as Tsireya relayed the story, voice faint, their faces never changed, their hands never left the girls’ shoulders. They kept them grounded, no matter how much they, too, wanted to cry.

That night, none of them had slept. Just around the bend, the Sully family was getting frantic as well. If [Y/N] listened closely, she could hear Neytiri’s sobs, Kiri’s soft prayers, Tuk’s comforting words. Jake and Lo’ak, as she could’ve guessed, remained silent. Stoic.

“He blames himself,” Tsireya whispered to [Y/N], the two watching the stars blink through the sky. “He blames himself for what happened to Neteyam. Because he made them go back, get their… human friend.”

“Have you spoken with him?” she asked her friend, her head dropping onto Tsireya’s shoulder as she dared, for just a moment, to close her eyes and tempt herself with rest.

She could feel Tsireya shake her head, her thick spirals of hair tickling [Y/N]’s back. “No,” she admitted before resting her chin atop [Y/N]’s head. “But, I know him.” Her eyes drifted to look at Rotxo and Aonung, just a few feet away, curled up and asleep. If it was any other circumstance, [Y/N] is sure she would laugh.

Hours passed, and [Y/N] and Tsireya seemed to take turns fading in and out of sleep. They were exhausted—physically, from having to fight Avatars and escape death on numerous counts, as well as mentally—but they were scared. Scared that, if they fell asleep, they would wake up and Neteyam would be gone.

But, the sun was finally cresting the next morning when the news finally came. [Y/N] would never forget how that felt—the light slowly creeping across her skin, breaking the chill of Awa’atlu’s cold nights. Waves lapped at the dock, soft, gentle, as if the ocean hadn’t any idea of the horrors that had taken place upon her open waters the night before.

[Y/N] dared to lift her head, rubbing exhaustion out of her eyes as she cast a look towards Ronal’s marui. Where Neteyam was lying, trying to beat death. No, she corrected herself, where he is beating death.

And then, the entrance flap opened, and Ronal stepped out.

At the sight, [Y/N] immediately popped up, stirring Tsireya. Instinctively, she grabbed her friend’s hand, and the girl shook her head, her face squished with confusion. “[Y/N]?” she rasped, sitting up slowly. “What is happening?”

All [Y/N] could think to do was grab Tsireya’s head, turning it so she finally looked at mother, waiting expectantly. While Ronal was busy watching the Sullys, silently willing them to come towards her, the Tsahik managed to cast a glance at her daughter and her friend. Then, for just a split second, as Neytiri and Jake were rushing to meet her, Ronal let herself smile. It was small, barely even there if you didn’t look for it, but [Y/N] and Tsireya saw it. And then, she nodded, and both girls knew exactly what she meant, no words necessary.

Neteyam was alive.

Ever since that fateful night, when [Y/N] had, well, helped save his life, there were three big discoveries. First off, Neteyam, and really the entire Sully family, had realized there was much more to [Y/N] than they had assumed. Neytiri had expressed that clearly, thanking the girl for her instincts, for her bravery. “You saved my son,” the Omatikayan woman exhaled, tears welling in her eyes as she squeezed [Y/N]’s hands. “Thank you.”

The second discovery was that there was much more to Tsireya, as well. Not only did Neytiri and Jake express their gratitude towards her, but her own mother finally—finally—expressed her pride. “You did the right thing, daughter. I knew you were intelligent, but I am more proud than ever to know you will be Tsahik in the future.”

The third discovery was, well, a whole lot of love. While Tsireya and Lo’ak already had preexisting interest in each other, this battle, although detrimental, only increased their feelings towards each other. Neteyam and [Y/N] however, were full of new beginnings.

New beginnings that, inevitably, led to a whole lot of secrecy just a month later.

Although, secrecy was beginning to feel like one big, fat lie. 

As Neteyam got closer, his deep blue skin now darkened by the constant barrage of sunlight, [Y/N] felt herself pull back to reality. Out of her memories, out of the terrors that have managed to haunt her, night by night, and instead, into the joy of the present. Into the joy of Neteyam.

“Are you busy?” the Omatikayan boy asked, although his words were slightly drowned out by his heavy breaths, suddenly exhausted from his trip across the sand dune. He stood next to her now, hands on his hips as he looked down with a small boyish grin.

[Y/N] laughed, waving a lazy hand in the air. “Technically, yes,” she admitted. “But, I can make time for you. If you need it,” she teased, eyes dancing with delight as the boy lowered himself to the sand and sat down right next to her. In front of her, a coil of rope—mangrove roots and tough sea plants, morphed together—sat at her feet. She was in the middle of weaving a fishing net, a tedious and arduous task.

“Did you draw the short straw today?” Neteyam asked knowingly. She’d complained about these chores very often to him, and clearly, it was reaching the point where it was a bit too much.

She sighed, leaning back so she rested her weight on her locked arms behind her, and shrugged. “I got to hunt yesterday, so now Aonung’s forcing me to stay here. Sucks that he gets to be all bossy all the time,” she complained with a groan.

“He is the future Olo’eyktan,” Neteyam offered with a laugh. “You’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the coming years.”

She rolled her eyes, although she couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled from her throat. “Yeah, don’t remind me.”

Ever since Neteyam began to recover, their relationship began to bloom. It was quiet at first, respectful, sweet. He didn’t domineer, he just… waited. Offered to help her when she needed it, spent more time around her, watched her in admiration. Soon, they began to see each other regularly, and before they knew it, they found any excuse they could to be together.

Eventually, the two would often sneak out, far after Eclipse, to find each other. [Y/N] brought him into a secret underground cove, one that she had kept to herself since her childhood, but now that she was grown, she finally decided it was time to share it. He was the first one she showed.

Neteyam and [Y/N], admittedly, shared a lot of firsts with each other.

One night, as they laid in that cove, backs pressed against the sand while the tide brushed against their toes, [Y/N] finally dared to ask. “Neteyam,” she caught his attention, voice gentle while she rolled, just slightly, to look at him.

Neteyam could feel her eyes on the side of his face and, habitually, he turned to meet her gaze. “Hm?” he hummed, a content smile resting on his lips. She watched as his gaze drifted—it trekked through her features, her eyes he so often complimented, her lips he could not get enough of, down to the waist he adored, her thighs—

“Eyes up here!” [Y/N] grabbed his chin with her hands, tilting it up so his eyes met hers once again. Laughter shook through his body, echoing across the small cave, and she felt her heart thump a bit faster at the sound. “I am trying to ask you a question here.”

“Alright,” he sighed dramatically, but the smile on his face betrayed him. “What do you want to know, ma’yawne?”

“Stop being such a flirt,” she teased, now fully turning on her side so she could get a full look at him. Her Neteyam. Finally, she took a breath and asked, “Was it me saving your life that convinced you to like me?”

Neteyam answered almost immediately. “No,” he said, with a shake of his head, shocking [Y/N] into pure confusion. “Oh, no. That was… no, [Y/N]. I have liked you since the very first moment I saw you.”

That was not what she’d been expecting.

“When we first arrived in Awa’atlu, you were… you were stunning, [Y/N], and everything in me told me to talk to you. But, I was a coward, and I knew you didn’t really like me, so it was never worth a try.” He shook his head, looking back up at the ceiling of the cave as if reliving his memories. “Then, I almost died. And you saved me. And I realized that, maybe—just maybe—you liked me too.”

An ugly guffaw echoed from [Y/N]’s mouth before she could stop it. Almost immediately, at hearing the sound, she clasped a hand on her lips, face heating up in embarrassment. “That was so much louder than I meant,” she whispered, and this time, both of them erupted into laughter.

“[Y/N]?” Neteyam’s voice brought her out of her head and back to the present. The present where she was still seated on the beach weaving stupid fishing nets because Aonung decided to be an asshole that morning. “[Y/N], are you okay?”

As she snapped back into it, [Y/N] turned to look at Neteyam, whose face was a mixture of amusement and slight concern. “Sorry,” she breathed, a sheepish grin shifting the corners of her mouth upwards. “Stuck in my head.”

He chuckled, shrugging. “It is alright, [Y/N],” he offered, his eyes lingering on her mouth for a second too long. She knew he wanted to kiss her—she wanted to kiss him too—but everything they’d done over the past three months—every kiss, every sensual touch, every deep conversation—had been in secret.

There were many reasons for their secret, but it was primarily because of their parents. In the case of Neteyam, he had a very… expectant mother and father. They’d been pushing him to find a mate right before they’d left High Camp—believing that he would still be the future Olo’eyktan at the time—and now, a part of him was scared they still expected him to create a life back at home. Especially knowing that Quaritch was gone, and the RDA would disappear within the next ten years anyway.

As for [Y/N], her parents were still pushing her to find a mate. To find a strong, stable life with some Metkayina warrior and create strong, stable babies. Just like her mother had done before her, and her grandmother before that. She wasn’t nearly as pressured as Neteyam was—she had no problem fighting her parents, in truth—but it still scared her to think about.

She knew she really wouldn’t have that conversation with them anytime soon, anyway. Well, not until she was truly ready to mate.

But, even though they intended their relationship to remain under wraps regarding their parents, there was only so much they could do when it came to their siblings and friends. While Neteyam and [Y/N], during that first month, believe they were more stealthy and secretive than ever, it turned out, they were anything but.

Tsireya was the first one who noticed. She watched how [Y/N]’s shoulders straightened when she saw Neteyam, how her breathing shallowed, her grin became softer. Easier. And then Neteyam was more joyous than ever. Despite having almost died a month earlier, he would not stop smiling. And his gaze… his gaze was so gentle when he looked at that girl. So kind, so sweet.

Tsireya had, idiotically, asked Lo’ak his opinion on this matter. “You don’t think they’re… seeing each other, do you?” While Lo’ak had no helpful information, he did have a very large mouth that accidentally told Aonung, who told Rotxo, who told Kiri, who confronted Neteyam about it right in front of Tuk. (Not to mention, the amount of bribery it took for Tuk to not tell on them.)

Luckily, their friends didn’t care—they were more annoyed than anything. Annoyed that Neteyam and [Y/N] had kept it a secret from them and for so long. In fact, it was shockingly Aonung who had said, “You know, I literally knew this was gonna happen. Didn’t I, Rotxo?”

Rotxo could only shrug. “Yeah, he bet on it like three weeks ago.” Then, the boy blinked. “Shit, I owe you, don’t I?”

Aonung slapped his friend on the shoulder cheerily. “Two months of chores, if I remember correctly.”

But, even if their friends knew, both Neteyam and [Y/N] knew that their parents would not have as gentle of a reaction. So, even if [Y/N] felt every urge to grab the back of his neck and kiss him right then and there, on that beach, in front of the stupid fishing nets, she couldn’t.

Instead, she smiled softly, looking down at her tired fingers, and whispered, “Will I see you tonight?”

Tonight, the bioluminescent glow along the forest floor pulsed softly beneath your feet, responding to your presence like a quiet heartbeat. Each step stirred light into motion, blues and greens blooming outward in gentle waves that made the forest feel alive in a way that was almost too intimate. It left you feeling exposed, as if the ground itself could sense the tension coiled tight in your chest.

Neteyam walked beside you with the kind of awareness that never truly turned off. His shoulders were squared, posture alert, head tilted ever so slightly as he listened to the forest beyond what youcould catch. His golden eyes scanned the shadows with ease, cataloging movement and sound even though there was no immediate threat. The warrior never rested—not really.

The hand wrapped around yours, however, betrayed him.

It was too tight, too grounding, as though he needed the contact to anchor himself to something solid. His thumb pressed into the back of your hand unconsciously, a steadying rhythm that suggested this moment—this fragile sliver of peace—was something he was afraid might slip away if he loosened his grip.

“You’re thinking too loud again,” you murmured, breaking the silence before it could grow heavy enough to suffocate you both. You glanced up at him, catching the faint crease between his brows that always appeared when responsibility weighed too heavily on him. “I can practically hear it.”

He huffed quietly, the sound almost a laugh, though it lacked its usual warmth. “You say that every time,” he replied, eyes still fixed on the path ahead.

“And every time, I’m right,” you answered, squeezing his hand gently in reassurance. Your thumb brushed against the calluses on his palm, worn smooth by years of training, bowstrings, and battle. The familiarity made your chest ache in a way that was equal parts comfort and fear. “You haven’t relaxed once since we left the village.”

Neteyam exhaled slowly, his gaze flicking toward the treetops before returning forward. The leaves above rustled faintly, glowing veins tracing patterns against the dark sky. “I can’t afford to,” he said after a moment, voice low and carefully controlled. “Not when everyone is watching. Not when every choice I make feels like it echoes farther than it should.”

You slowed your steps, tugging softly on his hand until he was forced to stop. The forest responded immediately, bioluminescence flaring brighter around you as if curious, as if aware that something important was unfolding. You turned to face him fully, refusing to let him hide behind motion or vigilance the way he so often did.

“Then look at me,” you said quietly, your voice steady despite the pounding of your heart. “Not the future olo’eyktan. Not the warrior everyone expects you to be. Just you.”

Neteyam hesitated, jaw tightening as if the request itself was dangerous. When he finally met your gaze, the intensity there nearly stole your breath. His eyes were sharp, brilliant, and far too tired for someone so young. “That’s exactly the problem,” he admitted, voice strained. “When I look at you, I forget who I’m supposed to be.”

The words settled between you like a confession neither of you had wanted to say aloud. Loving Neteyam had never been simple—not when he carried the legacy of Toruk Makto in his blood, not when the clan watched him like a promise yet to be fulfilled. Being close to him meant living beneath a quiet, constant tension, like a bow pulled tight and never released.

“We shouldn’t be here,” he continued, though he made no move to let go of you. His grip tightened instead, betraying the conflict warring inside him. “Not like this. Not alone.”

“We’re just walking,” you replied softly, though your heart raced with the unspoken truth beneath his words. “We’ve done that a hundred times.”

“That’s not what I mean,” he said, his voice dropping. “Every time we’re like this… it feels like tempting fate.”

You stepped closer, closing the small distance between your bodies until you could feel the warmth radiating from him. The forest seemed to hold its breath. “Maybe fate doesn’t need tempting,” you said gently. “Maybe it already knows.”

Neteyam swallowed, eyes flicking to your lips before darting away again as if the thought alone was dangerous. “You don’t understand what it’s like,” he said quietly. “To know that one wrong step could cost you everything. That loving someone gives the world a weapon.”

“I do understand,” you replied, your voice steady even as your chest tightened painfully. “Because loving you means living with that same fear. Every day.”

Something in him cracked then—not shattered, but softened. His shoulders sagged slightly, the rigid control slipping just enough for vulnerability to bleed through. “I’m trying to protect you,” he said, almost pleading. “Even from me.”

“And I don’t need you to,” you answered. “I need you to trust me.”

For a long moment, neither of you moved. The forest hummed softly around you, bioluminescent plants glowing brighter with each heartbeat, as if Pandora itself felt the tension pulling tight between your bodies. Neteyam’s hands hovered at your waist, uncertain and restrained, as though even touching you felt like crossing a line he couldn’t uncross.

“We’re dancing with our hands tied,” you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them. “Every step forward feels dangerous, but stopping feels worse.”

His breath caught sharply, and his forehead dropped to rest against yours. “That’s exactly it,” he murmured. “I feel like if I let myself fall… there’s no coming back.”

You lifted your hands, resting them lightly against his chest, right over his heart. You could feel it racing beneath your palms. “Then don’t fall,” you said softly. “Stand here with me. Even if it hurts.”

He laughed quietly then, breathless and strained. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not easy,” you replied. “It’s just honest.”

Neteyam’s hands finally settled at your hips, careful and reverent, as if he were afraid you might vanish if he held you too tightly. The touch sent a shiver through you—not from fear, but from the weight of everything unsaid. He leaned in slowly, deliberately, giving you every chance to pull away.

You didn’t.

The kiss was gentle at first, restrained and aching, like something precious he was afraid to break. It wasn’t rushed or desperate. It was careful, deliberate, filled with all the words he didn’t know how to say. When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours again, breath uneven.

“No matter how this ends,” he said quietly, “remember that I chose you. Even when I was afraid.”

You smiled softly, brushing your thumb along his jaw. “I’ll remember everything.”

The forest glowed brighter around you, bioluminescence pulsing like a silent witness as you stayed there together—hands still metaphorically tied by duty, fear, and expectation. And yet, despite all of it, you swayed gently in place, holding onto each other as if the world hadn’t already decided to test you.

You didn’t know how long it would last. You didn’t know how much it would cost. But in that moment, with Pandora breathing around you and Neteyam’s arms anchoring you to something real, you knew one thing with certainty.

Even with your hands tied, you would keep dancing.

The walk back toward the village felt different after that.

Not lighter, exactly, but sharper—like every sound carried farther, every shadow leaned closer than before. Neteyam did not release your hand, though his grip loosened enough that you could tell he was trying to regain control over himself. The forest dimmed gradually as the glow-plants thinned, their light fading into soft embers beneath your feet, as if Pandora itself knew when to give you privacy and when to pull away.

Neither of you spoke, but silence no longer felt empty. It pressed against you with meaning, heavy with everything you had chosen not to say out loud. Each step brought the distant sounds of the clan closer—the low murmur of voices, the crackle of fire, the rhythmic thud of life continuing whether you were ready for it or not.

Neteyam slowed as the first woven structures came into view. The faint glow of firelight reflected in his eyes, sharpening the gold until it looked almost molten. “Once we cross that line,” he said quietly, nodding toward the edge of the clearing, “everything changes again.”

“It always does,” you replied, your voice steady even as your pulse quickened. You had learned long ago that loving him meant accepting change as a constant, not a threat. “But it doesn’t erase what’s already happened.”

He glanced down at you then, something unreadable flickering across his face. “No,” he agreed. “It doesn’t.”

Reluctantly, he let go of your hand before anyone could see. The absence of his touch felt immediate and jarring, like stepping out of warm water into cool air. You resisted the instinct to reach for him again, knowing that even something so small could carry consequences neither of you were ready to face.

Within the village, life carried on as if the forest had not just borne witness to something fragile and dangerous. Children darted between adults, laughter echoing beneath the great branches that supported the homes above. Elders spoke in low tones near the fire, their voices carrying the weight of memory and expectation. Hunters cleaned weapons, hands steady and practiced, eyes sharp with focus.

You felt those eyes on Neteyam the moment he stepped fully into the clearing.

He straightened instinctively, shoulders rolling back as he slipped seamlessly into the role expected of him. The softness you had seen minutes ago vanished behind discipline and duty, replaced by the composed presence of someone raised to lead whether he wanted to or not. If you hadn’t known him as well as you did, you might have believed that was all he was.

You hated how convincing it was.

As he moved away to report to his parents, you lingered near the edge of the clearing, grounding yourself in familiar tasks. You busied your hands, helping prepare food, exchanging polite words with others who smiled at you with easy familiarity. To them, you were simply part of the clan—trusted, valued, safe.

None of them knew how close you stood to something forbidden.

Your gaze drifted back to Neteyam despite yourself. He stood beside Jake and Neytiri, listening intently as they spoke. Jake’s posture was relaxed but commanding, his voice low and steady, while Neytiri’s eyes were sharp and knowing, missing very little. You wondered, not for the first time, how much she already sensed.

Neteyam nodded as his father spoke, responding when appropriate, his expression carefully neutral. But you caught the moment his eyes flicked toward you—brief, almost imperceptible. The look there was enough to steal the breath from your lungs.

It wasn’t longing alone. It was fear. And choice.

Later, when the fires burned lower and the village quieted into something softer, you found yourself awake long after most had settled. The night air was cool against your skin, carrying the distant calls of nocturnal creatures and the gentle rustle of leaves high above. You lay staring up through the gaps in the canopy, watching faint stars peek through, your thoughts refusing to still.

Every word he had spoken replayed in your mind. Every touch. Every hesitation.

You wondered how long you could keep dancing like this—close enough to feel the pull, careful enough not to fall. You wondered how long Neteyam could carry both the weight of his future and the ache of wanting something that didn’t fit neatly into it.

A soft sound drew your attention, barely audible over the night. Footsteps—light, familiar.

You sat up just as Neteyam emerged from the shadows near your dwelling. He hesitated at the edge, clearly debating whether he should be there at all. When your eyes met, the decision seemed to make itself.

“You shouldn’t be here,” you whispered, even as your heart leapt painfully in your chest.

“I know,” he replied, just as quietly. He stepped closer, keeping to the shadows where the firelight couldn’t reach him fully. “But I couldn’t sleep.”

Neither could you, but you didn’t say it. Instead, you shifted to make room for him, a silent invitation that felt heavier than any spoken word. He joined you carefully, sitting close enough that your shoulders brushed, though he kept his hands firmly in his lap as if afraid of what they might do otherwise.

For a while, you simply sat together, listening to the night breathe around you. The closeness was both comforting and torturous, a reminder of how easily you fit together and how carefully you had to pretend you didn’t.

“I keep thinking about what you said,” Neteyam murmured at last. “About trust.”

You turned slightly, studying his profile in the dim light. His expression was softer here, stripped of the expectations that followed him during the day. “And?” you prompted gently.

“And I don’t know how to do it halfway,” he admitted. “If I trust you, truly… it means accepting that this could cost us both. That I might fail you.”

You swallowed, your throat tight. “Loving someone always comes with that risk.”

He nodded slowly. “My parents found each other in the middle of war,” he said. “They fought for each other when everything else was falling apart. Sometimes I wonder if that’s the only way love like that survives—when there’s nothing left to lose.”

“And you’re afraid you have too much to lose,” you said softly.

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.

The honesty in his voice hurt more than any lie could have. You reached out before you could stop yourself, resting your hand lightly against his forearm. The contact sent a visible shiver through him, but he didn’t pull away.

“I don’t need you to be fearless,” you said. “I just need you to be here. With me. Even when it’s complicated.”

Neteyam closed his eyes, leaning into your touch despite himself. “You make me want things I’m not ready to ask for,” he confessed. “A future that isn’t already written.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be,” you replied. “Maybe it’s something we write slowly. Carefully.”

His hand covered yours then, warm and solid, grounding in the way only he could be. “Hands tied,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Still dancing.”

You smiled faintly, pressing your forehead to his temple. “Still dancing.”

The moment didn’t need a kiss to be intimate. The closeness, the shared breath, the quiet understanding between you felt just as powerful. When he finally stood to leave, he did so reluctantly, as if every step away took effort.

“Be careful,” you whispered.

He looked back once, eyes glowing softly in the dark. “Always,” he said. “For you.”

When he disappeared into the night, you lay back again, heart aching and full all at once. The forest hummed quietly above you, Eywa’s presence a gentle weight rather than a burden. You didn’t know what tomorrow would bring—scrutiny, danger, choices neither of you could avoid.

But for now, you held onto the truth you shared beneath the stars.

Even with your hands tied, even with the world watching, you would keep dancing.

You are chilling at the tree of souls. You're sleeping, only half asleep though.

The Atorkirina are gathered at your body and fingertips.

You are listening to the sounds of Nature, when suddenly, there's a loud whoop and cheers.

Your eyes snap open, and you apologize to the Atorkirina, and you get up and run back to the village.

You're surprised to find that Lo'ak has an Ikran now. Your eyes are glistening with unshed tears, that you fret will escape.

"Why was he allowed before me...?" You think.

He was always the irresponsible one, let alone the best suitor for an Ikran at the age of 13, which you both had turned about a month ago.

You find it quite odd that his footing is off place, and there's a gash on his leg, presumably from the Ikran, which, is actually quite beautiful, but, you wouldn't admit to thinking that, of course.

You see the females running to him and crowding him, so you go back to the tree of souls. You attach your Kuru to the tree, and you pray. You pray to Eywa that you will be allowed to complete your Inknimaya.

You think that, if he is allowed, you should be allowed.

You want to prove yourself the better warrior.

"Dear Eywa, I want to be able to complete my inknimaya. I feel alone, and tired. I want to prove that I can be even better than my skxawng brother. How did he complete his and get permission? I have no idea. I do not know if this will work, but please, if you're listening, make my father see. Make him see that I am a better warrior than Lo'ak..."

You fell asleep.

You realize the sun has set. It is no longer daytime.

You rush to stand, and you sprint home. When you reach the marui, you freeze.

Your father is standing there.

With his arms crossed.

You curse under your breath, you know you are absolutely not getting out of this.

"WHERE IN THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, YOUNG LADY."

You wince as you hear his tone.

"Im so sorry, dad, I fell asleep at the tree of souls. I promise it wont happen again..."

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "I expected better from you. This is why Lo'ak was allowed to complete his inknimaya. You are always so sucked into yourself."

Your eyes glisten with tears.

How could he look at you like that..?

Did he think you were a monster?

You get mad.

You run out, and dont look back. Jake tries to chase you, but gives up.

You run to the Ikran mountain and climb.

Your limbs hurt, but oh well.

You reach the perch and climb over the rocks.

You see a beautiful navy blue ikran with emerald stripes in a few places, and purple sanhì over its body.

You make eye contact and realized this is Toruk's relative.

You can see it in the eyes.

You fight it, and end up climbing on top. You do tsaheylu, and command it to fly. It soars through the air, you tell it to go to Awa'atlu, the Metkayina territory. It obeys, but it takes long days and short breaks to get there.

About 3 days after leaving, you reach Awa'atlu.

You step off ur Ikran, the na'vi make a path for you.

Their skin is different from yours, you note.

Yours is dark blue, theirs is more of a teal. You put your hands up and ask for their Olo'eyktan.

You see him and do the traditional hand signal.

"Tonowari, Oel Ngati Kameie"

"You are?"

"(Y/n) te Suli Neytiri'ite. The second daughter of Toruk Makto."

"I see. Why are you here?"

"I seek uturu."

The Metkayina gasp.

You see the Tsahìk making her way over.

"Ronal, Oel Ngati Kameie."

"Why do you seek uturu amongst reef people?"

"I am done with my people. They prove no use, and will not allow me to complete tasks."

"Your skills will be of no use here."

"I will adapt."

Ronal and Tonowari share glances. They seem to be having a conversation with their eyes.

You suddenly feel a hand grip your tail.

"Owe!"

You take your tail back, and glare.

The boys snicker, and say its a baby tail.

You see a girl come out of the water and tell them to stop being rude.

You smile at her, because she seems kind. She smiles back.

Ronal clicks her tongue and nods.

"(Y/n) te Suli Neytiri'ite shall stay with us. Now, she does not know the sea, so she will be like a baby. Teach her our ways so that she does not suffer the shame of being useless." Tonowari says. He turns to you. "My son Ao'nung and daughter Tsireya will teach you our ways." You nod. Ao'nung protests, but Tsireya interrupts. "Come, I will show you our village."

Over the 3 years peacefully there, you adapt pretty well.

You and Ao'nung courted, and you're around 7 months pregnant with his child.

You hear the horns blaze, signaling a newcomer.

You and Ao'nung rush to the crowd, and your heart drops when you see who it is.

Your family.

The one you left behind in the forest.

Yall, tell me if you want me to continue this, it can be a oneshot or a series, just give me some support or motivation and Ill keep writing!

"(y/n)!" if she'd sat up any quicker, she probably would have given herself a concussion via slamming her head into her brother's. her brain was hardly connected to her eyes and ears before two sets of hands were shaking her by her shoulders, two voices melding into one unpleasant harmony. "what-?" she barely finished the word before, "you snuck out last night?!" she suddenly felt like she'd been doused in ice water. it was unbearably bright for someone who had just woken up, so between that and the introduction to a conversation she really didn't want to be having right off the rip of opening her eyes, she was ready to go drown in the ocean. the morning was probably approaching the noon at this point, and she groaned at the thought. if she had overslept, it would mean she was late for medicinal studies with tsahik ronal.

"what? no i didn't sneak out.. what are you even talking about?" the butt of her hands met her tired eyes and rubbed them like everything would just disappear if she continued long enough. "dad totally caught you!" she was now awake enough to process that her two harassers were lo'ak and tuk. she rolled her eyes. "it's none of your business." her joints groaned as she rose from her cot, aching from the scrimmage of the night prior. she walked over to the water basin and scooped the liquid into her hands, her siblings hot on her tail.

"so what were you doing?" "were you with that boy?" "did you kiss him?" (y/n) groaned and continued to scoop handful after handful of water against her face, rinsing her eyes and cheeks and neck. "his name is ao'nung, you should know that. and no i did not kiss him." "so you were with him!" they bursted into another cacophony of unintelligible squabbles, continuing on even as she pointedly walked away. "sorry, can't hear you, bye."

(y/n) promptly left the marui and walked briskly to the village square, where many people were doing the usual tasks of the day. a few called her name in greeting and she waved but heeded no time to chat. ronal wasn't necessarily the kind of woman you wanted to keep waiting. quickly she found her, tsireya, and kiri sitting in a communal area of the village, clearly well a ways into a lesson. she bristled at the sharp, scrutinizing gaze she was met with from ronal and quickly took a seat next to her sister, head lowered in embarrassment.

"you are late." a simple statement, but she might as well have told her she's useless with the tone her voice carried. ronal was not soft in any way. she was firm, a mighty warrior and mighty leader to the people. disappointing her was the last thing (y/n) wanted to do. "i sincerely apologize, tsahik." ronal regarded her apology with as little care as humanly possible and continued the lesson from where she had left off. kiri bumped their shoulders together and shot her a confused look, asking 'what happened?' with her eyes. (y/n) shook her head in response and instead made it clear she was trying to focus on the lesson and not interested in talking.

meanwhile, ao'nung, neteyam, jake and tonowari occupied the waters. tonowari was coaching the omaticayan boys on how to properly communicate via sign language when underwater, specifically in hunting or combat situations. ao'nung stood beside his father watching the men struggle slightly to grasp the language, happening to catch the piercing eye of jake. the first few times he thought he was just imagining things, or that he had been squinting against the sun, but around the third time it happened he realized it was purposeful. he began to grow a bit uncomfortable and high tailed it out of the lesson as soon as it ended, one particular omaticayan on his mind.

before he could get very far a large hand halted him by his shoulder. "ao'nung." he recognized the voice to be jake's and internally shivered, steeling his posture on the outside as he turned to face the man. "toruk makto." jake visibly cringed at the name but said nothing of it. "were you with my daughter last night?" ao'nung felt as though someone had screamed his deepest secret in front of the entire clan. his face flushed and his throat visibly bobbed with a hard swallow as he held the intense gaze of his friends' father, trying to think of what to do. should he tell the truth? should he lie? did he already know? did he see him drop her off?

his eyes peeked over jake's shoulder and met his fathers. tonowari was still standing in the water with neteyam about twenty feet away, giving him a look of confusion and concern, like: 'what did you do?'. he chose to tell the truth. "yes." jake shifted his weight and tilted his head, tongue rolling behind his teeth. ao'nung watched every emotion possible flick across his face before he nodded, giving a firm pat to his shoulder. he walked away. ao'nung didn't know if he should be scared or not. he met his father's confused eyes again and shrugged, their expressions matching at this point. tonowari shook his head and returned his focus to neteyam, who insisted on staying a bit longer to further practice the language.

just as ao'nung turned around to leave, rotxo caught him by his shoulders, laughing and shaking him a bit. they fell into step together, going towards the communal. "so, i hear you got lucky with the forest girl." if ao'nung rolled his eyes any harder, they would've fallen out of his head. "who told you that?! that is not true. i do not even like that girl." rotxo scoffed, giving him a little shove. "oh, you do not like her! is that why you spent allll night dancing with her and talking to her and practically drooling on her legs?" rotxo laughed when ao'nung shoved him, clearly embarrassed.

"oh yeah? and what about you and kiri, hm? don't think i did not see you two." now it was rotxo's turn to be embarrassed. he pushed and shushed him, looking around nervously like someone would hear. "bro, not so loud!" ao'nung laughed. they walked the rest of the way to the village square talking about unrelated topics like the latest hunt and whatever else teenage boys talk about when they're not talking about girls. on the inside, he had hoped they'd see the girls still with his mother. unfortunately that lesson had apparently ended, because none of them were anywhere to be found. 'damn.'

meanwhile kiri, tsireya, and (y/n) sat in a secluded area of the coast on a large flat rock, giggling and talking in hushed voices. well, (y/n) and tsireya were. kiri gave input every now and then, and chuckled along when they made jokes, but was otherwise quiet. that is, until: "so where were you last night?"

(y/n) shot a look to her sister like she had stung her, eyes wide and warning. kiri continued, a mischievous grin on her lips. "you were not in the house when i fell asleep." she could feel tsireya's curious gaze on her. "eywa..." (y/n) muttered under her breath, covering her blushing face with both hands while the other girls erupted into giggling and an onslaught of questions. "(y/n), where were you?" kiri asked. tsireya gasped. "were you with ao'nung?!" when (y/n) didn't respond, they got louder. tsireya was laughing and kiri was groaning, rolling her eyes. "you were!" "boys are such a waste of time, (y/n)."

(y/n) scoffed, baffled at the hypocrisy of the statement. "oh please! i bet you wouldn't say that in front of rotxo." kiri rolled her eyes to hide the fact she was flustered and tsireya laughed, lowering her voice into a hushed tone, leaning closer to both of the girls. they reciprocated her actions and easily fell into little whispers, talking about the night prior. "so (y/n).. you and ao'nung?" tsireya teased. she rolled her eyes, groaning. "no! eywa, i don't even like him as a friend. seriously." tsireya was clearly unconvinced. quickly, (y/n) deflected. "so, you and lo'ak?" her tone was accusatory and playful, tsireya smiled a smitten little smile. "it's not really like that.." she mused. "oh please. he basically has hearts in his eyes every time you're near him." "i swear he only has a good day if you talk to him." chimed in kiri.

they laughed. "what's so funny?" the three of them jumped like they'd been caught doing something bad, the shadows of four boys covering them. neteyam, ao'nung, rotxo and lo'ak had somehow found them and invited themselves to sit, widening the circle the girls had previously been in. "what are you doing here?" (y/n) whined, annoyed that they had so rudely interrupted girl time. "i could ask you the same thing." neteyam quipped from beside her, earning himself a little shove. she opened her mouth to speak again when small, urgent footsteps came pattering against the stone, and she was met with a blue blur that was tuk throwing herself down between tsireya and rotxo.

"tuk!" lo'ak was visibly annoyed. "i told you to stay with mom." tuk stuck her tongue out. "you always leave me out! i wanna hangout with you guys!" she whined, and (y/n) softened. she had a point. lo'ak was always trying to leave the youngest sister out, and (y/n) felt bad. "you can stay tuk, don't listen to him." kiri and tsireya nodded in agreement. it was clear who had the biggest soft spots for the young girl.

the seven of them fell into casual conversation easily, talking about how the sully's were adapting quickly to the metkayina lifestyle, their last swim excursion, and other things like stories of the past. they spent at least half of an hour talking this way before lo'ak made a comment that set the metkayina kids off balance. everyone went quiet, the sully's visibly a bit confused. the metkayina's looked to him, the sully's looked to the metkayina's looking at him, and he was visibly skeptical and on edge from all the sudden attention "what?"

"what did you just say?" ao'nung asked, tone and expression serious. "that i met a tulkun. payakan." he said. the metkayina's sat up straight, exchanging a look. tsireya looked at him in pity, her big eyes getting sad. "he saved my life." lo'ak was getting defensive now, picking up on the tension. he hated when everyone looked at him like he was making a mistake. "he helped me get back to the village after you," he emphasized, and ao'nung's head lowered. "left me in the middle of the ocean."

the sully's were very confused now. neteyam and (y/n) exchanged a look, then (y/n) and kiri, then all of them to each other. (y/n) looked to tsireya as her soft voice spoke: "lo'ak.. payakan is outcast." the words hit them like a falling tree, lo'ak seemingly taking the brunt of it. "outcast?" (y/n) asked, taking in the word. tsireya went on to explain that payakan was a killer. he went against the tulkun way, and was outcast forever. ao'nung and rotxo were solemn as she spoke, nodding slightly in agreement. (y/n) looked to her brother's incredulous, upset face. the tension was palpable.

"no." he said, beginning to stand. "lo'ak," (y/n) began, but he continued on. "no, you're wrong. he would never hurt anybody. he's kind. he helped me." tsireya softened and looked to him in that sad, pleading way, but he was firm in where he stood. ao'nung's eyes flicked to (y/n) before he realized what he was doing, seeing the way her eyes begged her brother not to go, not to do anything stupid. lo'ak gave them all one more disgusted glance before he turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving them in the awkward after math. (y/n) sighed and rubbed her eyes with the butt of her palms, feeling a tension headache about to come on.

tuk was patting tsireya's shoulder and telling her in that sweet, naive voice of hers that it wasn't her fault and lo'ak was just emotional like a little girl. rotxo took the hint and quietly excused himself, sensing that the prior moment was over. kiri did the same, taking tuk with her. tuk waved goodbye to tsireya and her older siblings and left, although a little reluctantly. neteyam sat silently and shook his head to himself. "teyam.." (y/n) said softly, scooting over next to him. she took his hand in hers and squeezed, earnest. "he's going to be okay."

neteyam had a habit of shouldering everything. as the eldest son and future olo'eyktan, he felt himself responsible for the happenings of everything, especially when it came to his siblings. he nodded, but his head still hung low. ao'nung watched as (y/n) situated herself in front of her older brother, kneeling before him with her hands on his shoulders. he didn't really know why he was still sitting there, it just felt correct. like he was waiting on something. on them. on her. "chin up, mighty warrior." she teased lightheartedly, and he cracked a smile.

"i mean it. chin up." he lifted his chin, not completely meeting her eyes. "shoulders back." she put her shoulders back, and he did the same. "what does dad always say?" neteyam rolled his eyes. " 'you're the oldest, you need to be more responsible'?" now (y/n) rolled her eyes. "no, not that one. the other one." neteyam held silent for a moment, grinning tiredly. he eventually gave in, muttering: "sully's stick together." (y/n) cupped her hand around her ear, "huh? what was that? sorry, i can't hear you." neteyam shook his head. "sully's stick together." his voice held a little more true this time. "sorry, one more time?" she leaned in closer. "sully's stick together."

(y/n) nodded and patted his shoulder firmly, holding his eyes. "sully's stick together. he will come home. he's just.. having one of his moments. and it's not your fault. okay?" he nodded. "okay." the sully's were a lot of things. they knew how to do a lot of things. they were quick witted, smart-mouthed, short-tempered and loyal as hell. but what they did not excel in was showing affection. they didn't say i love you, and they didn't know how to thank one another for emotional comforting. so it was no surprise to (y/n) when her brother simply gave her a firm nod, his eyes saying what his lips probably never would before he walked away. presumably to go home, being as it was starting to get dark.

(y/n) sighed and sat down, her back turned to ao'nung. she could feel that he was still there, and the knowledge embarrassed her a little. she didn't like to show vulnerability, but this was now the second time in less than a full day he'd seen her upset. her ears flattened against her hair and her tail drooped as she hugged her knees to her chest, looking out blankly at the water. she heard as he stood, heard his footsteps approach, felt his presence as he sat next to her without saying a word.

"why are you still here?" the question came off a little ruder than she intended, but he didn't seem to mind. he shrugged. she watched the sun slowly creep across the sky, taking it's time in reaching its destination. she listened to the sound of the waves lapping at the rock, falling into one another; she listened to the hums of the breeze, felt the way it kissed her face and hair on its way by. for a long while she sat this way, ao'nung silent beside her, and she began to feel the calmest she had in a long time. she began to feel like one with her surroundings, and she had a thought. she doesn't need to be praying, or pleading, or connected to the spirit tree to feel eywa. she was always there, like a word about to be spoken.

more time passed, and soon she understood it was probably time for them to head to the nightly village meal. the knowledge sat at the forefront of her mind but she made no moves to do anything about it. she didn't want to go. ao'nung had still not spoken a word, and she had not moved.

"why are you here?" she asked again, her voice dry and hoarse from being silent for so long. he didn't respond immediately. instead he took a deep, slow breath and continued to look out at the horizon, a smug, lazy smile occupying his lips. "it's my duty as future olo'eyktan to look out for the people. even annoying forest girls. so, i thought i'd offer you my shoulder to cry on."

as much as he didn't want to admit it, or acknowledge it, he cared for this girl in some way or another. he saw how upset she was and just the idea of leaving her alone made him feel like less of a man. so he stayed. he thought maybe she'd want to talk, but when she didn't, he decided not to push. if she wanted him, he'd be there.

(y/n) stared at him blankly for a long moment, watched the way he lazily tilted his head to meet her gaze. eywa, he was so smug. and so handsome. and sitting so close. and his eyes were watching her like he could see her. and he was so full of himself, and infuriating, and why did she want nothing more than to reach out and feel him?

eventually they simultaneously ended the impromptu stare-down and (y/n) huffed, shaking her head. "you are the most infuriating person i've ever met." he chuckled at that, arrogant demeanor coming back full power. "you flatter me." there was a silent and mutual communication that they should get going to dinner before there was nothing left for them to have. the sun had just begun saying its last goodbyes from the horizon when they stood, making their way to the communal. it was quiet and peaceful at first, the comfortable silence that always seemed possible between them making its claim. that is, until ao'nung said: "your father knows you were with me last night."

(y/n)'s head whipped to look at him so fast she nearly got whiplash, her eyes wide. "what? how? when? how can you be sure?" ao'nung chuckled at the urgency in her voice. "he asked me." immediately her fist was connecting with his shoulder. "ow-" he frowned, she continued. "are you insane?! do you want him to skin me? eywa, you are so stupid!" she continued talking basically to herself while he rubbed his shoulder, pouting a bit. it was starting to seem like he got punched by a sully at least once a day. "calm down, would you? it is not like we did anything.. bad."

(y/n) blushed at the implication of his words and groaned loudly, pushing him. "as if i would ever do-" she tripped up on her words, so flustered her brain and mouth stopped working in tandem. "you are insufferable." she finalized, and he feigned hurt, dramatically flinching away when she turned to growl at him. "i told you you're not my type anyway. nothing to worry about." they squabbled all the way to the communal and only shut up when they parted to sit with their respective families, (y/n) glaring at his amused face from across the way.

the rest of the clan was already in the process of eating, meaning they had missed prayer and opening statements from chief tonowari. she ignored the calculating, scrutinizing look jake passed between the two of them as she sat down beside him. "is there something you need to tell me?" he whispered to her, clearly a bit agitated in the way he always was when he got overprotective. "no, dad." she cut quickly, the annoyance she felt with him and the rest of her families constant badgering slipping into her tone. thankfully he left it alone.

or so she thought. because an hour later when dinner had ended and the sully family was back inside their marui, he immediately pounced the subject. "are you out of your mind?" (y/n) groaned loudly and walked away from him, something only she and kiri could do without getting ripped a new one. jake was softer in discipline with his daughters than he was with his sons, and they were often met with a bit more patience when it came to giving him attitude. even so, she still knew when to push and when to give; and judging by the way he followed her to her area of the home and the tone of his voice, she was gonna have to do some giving.

"do not walk away from me when i'm speaking to you." he all but growled. she turned around and met his eyes. he was concerned, irritated, and worried all at once, and it was written all over his face. she held his gaze, a flicker of irritation burning in hers, and waited for him to speak. by this point, her siblings were failing at trying to look like they weren't listening in. neytiri stood a few feet behind jake, watching them. waiting to see if she would need to step in. "what is going on with you babygirl?" he asked, the firmness in his voice giving way to concern. "nothing." the word was a mix between a whine and a sigh.

"nothing, my ass. you come home an hour late last night, you show up thirty minutes late to dinner tonight, and both times you're with that boy." she said nothing, her eyes narrowing in irritation. nothing she said would ease the situation. she knew he was only getting so mad about this because he was stressed from other things. he seemed to come to the same realization, because after a minute the furrow in his eyebrows released and he sighed, shifting his weight. she lowered her gaze as he ran a hand down his face.

he spoke like he was choosing each word carefully, his voice quieter and gentler. "i just want to know you're alright." she slowly raised her eyes, looking at her dad. her dad who she loved so much, and who was stretched so thin due to their circumstances. between the sky people attacking their home, having to come seek uturu among strangers, all the trouble lo'ak kept getting in, and now the worry that his daughter was potentially being hurt by the son of the chief they sought uturu from, he was at his wits end.

it was a conscious effort to fight back the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes. seeing her father who used to be toruk makto look so tired tugged directly at her heart strings, and not in a good way. "you know i don't like that kid. especially not after what he did to your brother." even if they had never talked about it, she knew her father knew lo'ak took the blame to save ao'nung's tail.

she sighed and shifted her weight. "i know." jake waited expectantly. neytiri was still standing near, but her siblings had caught the hint and returned to minding their own business. mostly. "he's not hurting me. he's my.. friend." for some reason, saying the word felt like trying to wade through a pool of peanut butter. it was hard for her to believe that someone she once wanted to literally strangle was now someone she considered a friend. he raised an eyebrow. "friend, right? and nothing more than that?"

(y/n) rolled her eyes once more, embarrassed and tired of having the same conversation. truth be told, she didn't really know if they were even friends or just being cordial. it felt like friendship, but it wasn't like there was ever a spoken agreement. and then on the other hand, sometimes it felt like more than friendship. when he made her dance with him, when he showed her the lagoon, when he sat in silence with her for over forty-five minutes, even though she hadn't asked him to.

"yes." regardless of all those thoughts swirling in her head, she felt it best to just agree and get it over with. "just friends." jake nodded, his ears flicking back in the way they always did when he was a little embarrassed. he knew he was being too overprotective, but she was his eldest daughter. he'd burn down all of pandora if it meant keeping her safe; he'd do the same for any of them. "good. you're too young for a boyfriend or whatever anyway." she rolled her eyes, and that was that. he pulled her in for a hug, hand resting against the back of her hair, and just held her for a moment. he thought back to when she was barely up to his knees and all she wanted to do was be right by his side. it was hard for him to believe she was almost old enough to start thinking about finding a mate.

after a moment he released her with a pat to her back and sent her off to bed, heading to his own respectively. she watched the silent communication that took place between her parents as they went to their bed, neytiri looking at her husband with skepticism.

too tired to care or do any more talking, (y/n) lied down on her cot and pulled the nimble quilt her grandma mo'at made her over her slender body. for a long while, she simply stared at the wall, ears twitching at the noises her family made as they settled in for the night. eventually it fell quiet, the only audible noises being her mother's voice softly praying and the breeze outside.

the last thing on her mind before she fell asleep was ao'nung. she thought of the unwonted kindness he had shown her lately. when she first met him, he was arrogant, rude, and a straight up bully. but ever since the incident with lo'ak, he'd been kinder, talked slower, like he cared what left his mouth. he was still arrogant and regularly irritated her, but nothing like he used to. why? 'you're not my type.' his voice echoed in her head, the smug, amused smile he had flashing behind her eyes. his smile was contagious. but his words didn't match his actions, and that confused her. did he like her? did she like him? she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. but what she was sure of, was that she found herself hoping to see him throughout the day. that he'd come see her between lessons, that they'd get to talk at dinner, anything.

what that meant for her, she didn't know. and maybe she didn't have to, because 100 yards away, in his hammock, ao'nung was thinking the same things.

The Metkayina pair became good mates for her, they were understanding, loving, protective, everything she had ever hoped for in the past, a dream she once had that now became a reality.

Tonowari hunted for the rarest of pearls outside the reef and crafted pretty necklaces and beaded tops for his new wife, his love was more physical, he enjoyed creating new clothes and loved decorating ___’s hair with small shells and sea glass, his wives only deserved the best after all.

Ronal showed her loved in different ways though, she cooked for the growing family, took care of any wounds, accompanied ___ wherever she went and taught her all she knew about being a Tsahík in hopes that she can learn and become one herself in the future.

Together the three thrived and eventually moved into one large marui with the perfect view of the sunset and sunrise each and every day. The house had much more space for their children too, who were all growing as the years went on, there were even new additions to the family, such as Tsireya, their first daughter and Ronal’s second born.

___ often thought about having more children, but birthing twins, especially in the circumstance she was in, was enough to put her off for a while. But with her new happy family, she continues to ponder what it would be like, she now lives in a more stable environment with mates who adore her and her boys so it was only right for her to think.

“Yawnetu, what is on your mind?”

Tonowari glanced up from the net he was weaving, cocking his head to the side and blinking, usually at this time of the day his wife would be chattering away about what she has been up to while he was hunting, but alas he was met with silence most of the evening. It was obvious something else took up her thoughts, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Snapping her head towards her husband, a purple hue took over ___’s pretty face “I am sorry, what was it you said? I was not paying attention”

Tonowari chuckled and put down the unfinished net, getting on his hands and feet and shuffling quickly next to her, cupping her face. “I know you were not, that is why I asked what you were thinking of” he leaned in and brushed his nose against hers, foreheads connecting.

___’s slightly larger ears twitched at his words, eyes widening, should she tell him?

Just as she was about to open her mouth loud shouting echoed from outside the marui, interrupting the couple peace. Tonowari leaned back and sighed, eyes closing and a hand coming to rub his temple, what could be causing such a racket late into the evening?

As the shouting drew closer it was clear to make out the voices and words, the concern that once appeared in ___’s yellow orbs died down into amusement.

“No! That is mine! I will tell sa’nu!”

“She will agree with me anyway, you must share! It is not fair you get to have this all day!” Two young na’vi scrambled into the hut, bickering and sticking tongues out at each other. One held an akula toy made out of mangrove wood, waving it around like a prize he had won. “Sa’nu! Tell this skxawng to share!”

Syatxì pouted at his greener brother, glaring daggers into bluer eyes, his yellow gaze fell onto his mother who hid a laugh behind her hand, frowning even more at the lack of help. “Mama, tell him off!” he pointed a finger at Ao’nung who stuck his tongue out once more.

“Now why must your mother solve all of your problems?” Tonowari stood up and crossed his arms, analysing his sons who quickly stood to attention. “You two are warriors are you not?”

“Srane!”

“Then you must fight your own battles. Your mother should not be doing so, instead of her looking after you, you must look after her” the boys were fast to nod intently, taking in the words like it was a quest they must complete, and in a way it was. “Warriors do not depend on the fight of others, you must think for yourselves, what would better the situation -“

“Tonowari” Another figure emerged from the entrance to their home, walking inside with the steps of a leader, behind her skipped in another two smaller figures, peaking out between the Tsahìk’s legs. “Must you do this now?” Ronal huffed and placed a few bowls down, squatting by her pile of herbs and sifting through them.

“Ronal, they need to learn”

“And they will, husband” the woman glanced up and offered a small smile, “in due time” she then moved to sit next to her wife, cupping the back of her head as an intimate gesture.

___ patted the space between her legs to offer her daughter a place to sit as the family talked, quickly getting to work adjusting her thick hair “my sons, fighting is not the answer. Sharing is what we do as a family, and Ao’nung, do not call your brother names”

It was Ao’nung’s turn to pout as his counterpart cackled in his face, snatching the akula toy and running away. “Hey!”

Happiness is simple.

That’s what ___ told herself as she watched her boys play, Sylwaì rushing to join in the fun as they soon decided to leave for the waters and explore before dinner.

Her family meant everything to her, she has a home now and has a life with people who appreciate and care for her as much as she does them. “I appreciate you both, I love you in ways i cannot express” she whispered, kissing the top of Tsireya’s head as she jumped up to follow her older brothers who called for her.

“And we love you yawnetu” Tonowari sat on her other side, kissing her shoulder. “You know, you still have not told me what was on your mind earlier, you were thinking very heavily”

“I want another child”

Ronal stopped poking the fire pit that was suspended above the water, inhaling a breath and turning her head to look at her mates with eyes that shined with growing glee. “You do?” her tail started swishing behind her, despite her best efforts to be calm and mellow.

“Srane. Maybe not right now, but at some point, I want children of your blood, and mine”

“It is decided!” The Olo’eyktan jumped and picked ___ up by the thighs, hoisting her up and she squealed, laughing at his joy. “When you are ready, we mate, again, and you will bear our next kin” he rubbed his nose against hers, placing her back on the floor by her feet.

Ronal soon joined and kissed ___’s shoulder sweetly, a small grin on her face “it was about time you said that, I was afraid ‘wari might explode otherwise”

“Ronal!”

Yes, happiness was simple.

It was times like these where Neytiri most thought of her, the beads in her hands resembled the amber of her eyes and the pattern of the bracelet reminded her of her hair.

___ never left her thoughts ever since she left all those years ago. The tsakeram has physically moved on, after her search for the women was left with no progress she decided to pray to Eywa to keep the small family of three safe on their travels to wherever they go and hope for the best. Mentally, Neytiri is sad, her heart still aches and yearns for her lost mate, and if she can turn back time she would, just to change who she was.

“What are you thinking of?” Jake put his bow away, finished with cleaning the exterior and replacing the string, his head turned towards his wife and cocked a brow, noting her silence.

“___”

Jake paused, face turning to look at the ground by his feet, ears going down, just like Neytiri he is haunted by his actions, but he tried to forget about them rather than acknowledge them. He was a brute, a shit ‘mate’ and abandoned his sons before they were even born. It’s thoughts like those that push him to step down from his mighty position as a leader, but the clan needs him, so he stays.

“I have faith that she is safe somewhere” Jake replied, nodding his head to reassure himself. ___ was strong, she would have found somewhere to be.

Neytiri sighed and tied off the bracelet, “and what if she was turned away, for her sons? What if she never found anywhere safe to begin with? what if -“ large hands cupped her face and a nose bumped hers, Jake smiled a little at her rambling, but it was a sad smile, he does not know how to answer those questions, he thinks the same as her deep down.

“The twins were born looking like true na’vi, there is no way they would find out about them without ___ saying so”

The warrior nodded her head, sighing in defeat and kissing her mates cheek, for now she would get on with her other chores, later she will ponder again. It was like a cycle she can never break out of, one that leaves her dreaming dreamless nights and going about her day on autopilot.

“Sa’nok!” Kiri jumped into her mothers lap, rushing to get away from the sticky hands of her brother, Lo’ak, who was chasing her with the intent of throwing tree sap in her hair. “Hide me from him! He will not leave me alone!”

Lo’ak roared and ran up to the pair, squealing when he was picked up and dangled upside down by his father, “Dad! Put me down!” he wriggled and tried to escape the Olo’eyktan’s firm grip.

Jake chucked and continued to gently swing him, “Kehe, what did I tell you about terrorising your sister? you worm”

“Not to do it in front of sa’nok!”

“Hey!” Jake bellowed a laugh as he put his youngest down, catching Neytiri’s judging face aimed straight at him and quickly stopped his laughing, pretending to act serious for the sake of his wife. “Kids will be kids” he shrugged, trying to play the innocent husband with a coy smile.

His wife just huffed, a grin stretching onto her face as she felt a kick in her stomach, hand instantly going to soothe the ache. “Little one wants to join in the fun, it seems”

Kiri gasped as she felt the slight pound on her back, turning to face her mothers bloated stomach and leaning down, smooshing her face against it “I want my sister out, I am tired of being the only true girl, there is only so much me and Lo’ak can talk about”

“Kiri! I am NOT a girl you turd!”

Kiri just ignored her brother in favour of focusing her attention on her new unborn sibling. “How do you know it will be a girl ‘ite?” the youngling shrugged and smiled a little.

“I just have a feeling” she sung. The marui entrance suddenly flapped open with force, another little boy rushing inside, panting slightly.

“Lo’ak! Stop running away from me!” Neteyam went and tackled him, dogpiling onto his younger brother who laughed loudly, the two wrestling for fun. Kiri snorted and rolled her eyes ‘boys’

Jake kneeled next to his mate, kissing the back of her neck and sighing quietly, his family bringing him the comfort he desperately needed, but yet he still feels incomplete. His heart yearned for the missing pieces, his missing sons and his missing mate.

One day he will find them.

A new star appeared in the sky. It was small to the naked eye, almost unnoticeable, but to someone who has studied the stars day in and day out for the past 14 years, it looked out of place, glowing brighter than the others around it, twinkling brighter and brighter as the minutes past.

“Hey” Jake nudged his wife awake from where she laid on his chest, still staring up into space. His distant look urged Neytiri to turn her head up into his line of sight, eyes widening and jaw going slack.

“No, this cannot be” In the far distance, the bright light zoomed down onto Pandora, red hot fire raging down onto the planet with a mission. Everything around the ships caught fire and the flames spread too quickly, the creatures of Pandora screeching and rushing to escape.

Neytiri ran to a higher viewpoint, jumping over logs and dodging yerik who fled in the opposite direction, a cry escaped her lips and she watched her home, once again, fall victim to the humans who once destroyed her planet in a time she thought long had past. The Na’vi crouched and sobbed, feeling the arms of her mate surrounding her who had his ears pinned back, watching the sight of the forest going up in flames.

His nightmares never seemed to end, Jake could only wonder if this was the great sorrow Moat talked about all these years ago.

A year passed from the return of the human race, the humans and na’vi who lived near hells gate moved up to the floating mountains for safety. Always preparing for war, always going to fight.

Spider was squatted over various bowls of blue paint, redoing the stripes that littered all over his body, sticking his tongue out in concentration. Behind him, Kiri worked swiftly and accurately, painting stripes in places he cannot see or reach.

“I still don’t understand why you paint yourself like this”

“I told you, it’s to blend in” Spider turned and faced the much taller girl, looking at the stripes on her body to try and mimic on his own. “When I do this, I look like one of you, the animals respect me more. Plus, I run faster”

“Sure monkey boy. The animals probably don’t want to taste the berries when they eat you” Kiri snorted, dipping her hand in more blue paint and going back to paining his biceps.

“Hey! I am na’vi, just like you” Spider scooped a large glob of paint, although still small compared to the amount Kiri had, and launched it at her face.

“Oop!”

Sudden footsteps interrupted their playful banter, little padding of feet getting closer behind the pair. “Spider! Kiri! The war party has returned! They are back! Come on! Come on!” Tuktirey rushed over and grabbed both of their arms, dragging her sister and friend along to the edge of high camp, watching as banshees shouted as they flew by and landed.

Shouting can be heard by the cliff, the evident voice of their father talking sternly to their brothers, Kirk’s ears went down and she sighed, going behind Neteyam and looking at his evident wounds.

“You spot bogeys! That was your one job! You spot them and you report them, from a distance!” Jake got up to the boys faces, waving his hands like a madman.

“I’m sorry sir, it was my fault” Neteyam lowered his head, disappointed that he let his father down again.

“When are you gonna stop taking the heat from this knucklehead?” Jake glared at him, eyes going to Lo’ak who stood silent, feeling his little sister moving his arms around. “And you? What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Ma Jake. Your son is bleeding” Neytiri interrupted, eyes concentrated on her husband who was evidently stressed. Her tail curled in slight annoyance, heart pumping from the adrenaline she felt in the fight. Jake looked at his wife and sighed, hand going to his temples.

“Go to your grandmother. Now” As Neytiri took Neteyam by the arm and followed her daughters to her mothers tent, she turned around to observe Lo’ak who was left standing in front of her husband. “You understand what your actions caused?”

“Yes sir”

“You could have gotten your brother killed” Lo’ak’s ears went down, he hated disappointing his father. “No flying for a month. See to every ikran, get them taken care of” and with that Jake stormed off, shaking his head and muttering curses under his breath, the ringing in his ears won’t stop, and unlike Neytiri his heart pumps from fear not adrenaline.

‘I could have lost them’

“Yawnetu” Ronal stalked over to her wife who fed the young ilu in the pen, a deep frown on her face at the news she was about to deliver. “The Omaticaya in the forest, they are at war once again”

___’s ears twitched and pulled back, she knew that the star she saw a year ago was not from any constellation she has memorised since her childhood, she had a feeling that the tawtute have returned, but has been keeping her mind occupied to forget.

Her heart continued to hurt though.

“I know, my love. I worry for my family back home” especially Spider, who she prays to Eywa every night to keep safe. Ronal rested her hands upon her lovers shoulders, sighing deeply, she knows that her wife is hurting inside, but the tsahìk can only offer comfort, not truly in the midst of war yet. Somehow Awa’atlu has stayed away from the tulkun huntings, and she hopes Eywa can keep them safe for a little longer. Sooner or later though she knows that war will be amongst their side of the reef, it was only a matter of time.

Ronal then took her hands off ___’s shoulders and stood straight, “I must continue with my duties today, join me?” the forest na’vi shook her head, she was planning to join some of the women to go into the reef to pick some plants needed for food and healing.

“Not at this moment, I must join some of the divers today” the metkayinan nodded and smiled a little, moving away from the ilu pen to wherever she was needed. ___ went back to throwing fish at the creatures in the sea, giggling when the young ones brushed against her legs. The smile she displayed was hardly genuine, but it was enough to fool outsiders who do not know her well enough.

The woman soon slips out of the water, putting down the empty baskets to be filled later and moved to where she was to meet the other ladies. The day ahead was something that she would soon come to dread, unknownst to her the past she once sought herself leaving would soon come crashing into her life tenfold.

But being unaware for the meantime was bliss.

The ladies were kind to her and the job was easy enough, she finished within a few hours into the morning, deciding to rest by the edge of the reef chatting away with her friends of a few years now. Gossiping about their husbands, as wives do.

‘’Do not get me wrong, I adore my mate, but sometimes he is just so overbearing! Why do I need to take two spears with me when I am outside the reef! I can very much handle myself’’ Tayal huffed, tail slapping the ground in slight annoyance from this mornings hunt. She was a seasoned hunter, extremely skilled and praised by the elders for her work, but her husband was just too cautious.

Sayala rolled her eyes and smiled at her ‘’your mate just looks out for you, if you do not like his actions then it is best to talk to him. I, for one, do not have an overbearing mate but he does snore very loudly when he sleeps. So loud that it wakes me up sometimes! I wish that I had your problem’’ The group laughed, ___ patting her shoulder in pity.

‘’If Tonowari were to ever do that then Ronal would shun him to sleep onto the ocean floor. I am lucky that he does not pose any problems late at night’’ She giggled, catching the interest of some of the ladies.

‘’My Tsahìk! You have two mates, what is that like?’’ The question caught her slightly off guard until she remembered that it is extremely rare for Na’vi to hold more than one lover, even then it is usually preserved for important figures of the clan.

‘’Well, it is normal for me, I have had two mates ever since I came of age, they are wonderful to me and the kids, I am just thankful to Eywa for guiding me here to them’’ ___ rubbed her swollen stomach, thanking the great mother for what has become of her, Tayal hummed, basking in the light that is ___.

But the Na’vi cannot help but wonder, her Tsahìk has become of age long before she joined Awa’atlu and she could not have been mated to her leaders since then, not to mention her two sons who were not of Metkayina blood (although she did not bat an eye at the latter, sometimes women have children without mates). Is ___ hiding something from them? But before she could ponder any longer their conversation was abruptly disrupted.

A horn sounded through the village, reaching far to the Na’vi who sat at the edge of the reef. They all yipped and cried out at the warning signal, abandoning their chores and standing tall from their crouches. ‘Visitors? What could this mean?’

‘’Look! Up there!’’ One of the woman pointed to the sky where ikran glided through the air, on top sitting forest Na’vi shouting to each other in panic, not expecting a horn to greet them as they entered. It alerted the village to the visitors, and while it was inevitable, attention was not something that they wanted to bring towards them for the time being.

___’s breath hitched at the familiar ikran colours, if these are the Na’vi who she thinks they are then- ‘’___ come! We must see who they are’’. But the Omaticayan could only sigh, already knowing the answers to the question her friend seeks guidance for, ikran are unique in their patterns, there are no two banshees who look the same. The two large creatures at the head of the formation could only belong to the Na’vi she once ran away from.

Ao’nung stalked through the crowded beach, coming to the forefront of the commotion with hard eyes, Rotxo trailing behind him. His gaze caught the yellow orbs of the two Sully boys who watched him with slight wonder, having never seen another Na’vi race before the Omaticaya. Inwardly the boy cringed, seeing similarities between his brothers and these…people. This was going to be difficult.

‘’Is that supposed to be a tail?’’ His smaller companion laughed slightly, pointing towards the skinny appendage which curled in anticipation. Ao’nung averted his gaze towards it and scoffed, smirking when the older boy of the two brothers turned his head to look at him. ‘’How are they supposed to swim-‘’

‘’Do not, Rotxo, Ao’nung’’ a sweet voice called out, small hand hitting the back of her brothers heads and blue eyes rolling at their stupidity. They were trying to look intimidating and it was obvious, making fun of these newcomers who looked the exact same as some of their family members. It was rude, and extremely unnecessary, these people are guests here, and as the chiefs daughter, she will show them the kindness that her idiot brothers will not do.

Tsireya noted the absence of her mother and two brothers, being suddenly reminded that their presence would be appreciated, if not for the sake of her people then perhaps the sake of these newcomers. Her head moved to look at one of the boys face to face, dipping down and smiling apologetically. ‘’Hey’’ He tipped his head up and smiled a small smirk, trying his luck with making friends with the people who he would be potentially living with. Friends, or something more?

Tsireya grinned and chuckled at his awkwardness, finding it sweet that despite the predicament they find themselves in, he still shows kindness towards her.

Hoots and shouts alerted the clan that their leaders were in the vicinity, Tsireya’s father landing in the water nearby on his large skimming. He waded out of the water, eyes never leaving the newcomers and raised his brows as he got closer, it was Toruk Makto, whom he met during the great clan meetings.

“I see you, Jake Sully”

“I see you Olo’eyktan”

“Neytiri te Tskaha Mo’at’ite” they formally greeted each other, fingers to their forehead and dipping them in the accustomed manner of their people. ‘’What brings your family to our side of the reef?’’

Jake and his wife shared eye contact briefly, unsure on what to say and afraid of saying the wrong thing, they were tired of travelling, tired of war, they could not go on much longer. ‘’We seek uturu’’

‘’Uturu?‘’ a new voice called out, appealed and confused. Ronal sauntered up to Toruk Makto and sized him up with a glare, moving on to his wife who bowed in respect of the tsahik. Her blue eyes caught the sight of their children and waltzed up to them, moving around them like an akula and inspecting their aura.

‘’Srane, we seek a sanctuary for our family’’ Jake’s tail curled in nervousness, he hasn’t felt this scared since that day he had to prove himself to the Omaticaya, warning them and getting them to believe him when the skypeople were attacking hometree.

‘’We are reef people, you are from the forest, your skills mean nothing to us here’’ Tonowari announced to the family, voice strong and firm. He was wary about their arrival, it was sudden and unexpected. He knew of the war happening overseas, everyone does, but has it become so bad that they seek refuge in another clan?

Jake cringed at the harshness in the leaders gaze, so used to respect from his people back home that he forgets his place in others. His ears picked up the whimpers of his youngest as she clung to his legs, scooting away from Ronal’s piercing gaze and scalding touch. ‘’Their arms are thin’’ her voice rang through the crowd, stopping any chatter, ‘’and their tails are too weak, they will be slow in the water’’ she ignored Kiri’s small outcry when her tail was yanked a little too harshly.

But the Tsahik’s calculating gaze quickly turned to critique and panic once her eyes caught onto the girls hand, she snatched it from where it hung limp and brought it into the air to show her people, ‘’these children.. are not even true Na’vi!’’ She grabbed onto one of the boy’s hand with her free one and raised it too, to show who they truly are, ‘’they have demon blood!’’

Gasps rung out among the Metkayina, not expecting the very aliens to destroy Pandora to come across the sea to their island for sanctuary, hisses vibrated through some of them, hostility in their blue orbs. ‘’Yes we are!’’ Kiri snatched her hand back and glared, subtly moving closer to her mother who narrowed her eyes, not liking the way this woman, clan leader or not, spoke about her children.

Jake felt panic course through him at the judgemental gazes being directed to their small group, this was not going to plan. ‘’Hey..look! Look at this! I was a skyperson but now i am Na’vi! We can adapt, we will adapt right?’’ He showcased his five fingers to the Tsahik who watched his pinky finger poke outwards curiously. Murmurs of small ‘yeah’s’ rung through the Omaticayans as they agreed with him.

‘’My husband was Toruk Makto. He brought the clans to victory against the skypeople’’ Neytiri stepped forward, trying to assert herself. She will not let her family suffer once more just because she was turned away by this disrespectful Na’vi.

Ronal scoffed, glare hardening. Eywa so help her if this outsider continued to scorn her and her position in her own clan, ‘’is this what you call victory? Hiding, among strangers’’ her eyes flicked from Neytiri to her husband and back ‘’it seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one’’

A sharp hiss interrupted her sentence, sharp teeth obstructing Ronal’s vision. On instinct she hissed back, ears flattening to her skull, unaware of the worried look her mate shared with Jake.

Tonowari decided to put an end to this feud before the women fought with spears, ‘’Toruk Makto is a mighty warrior, all Na’vi people know his story. But your people are at war and us Metkayina, we have stayed away from the conflict. We do not want you to bring this fight to us’’

‘’I am done with war’’ Toruk Makto picked Tuktirey up who clung to his neck like a lifeline ‘’I just want to keep my family safe, please’’

‘’Let them stay’’

The crowed parted once more to reveal a dark blue figure emerging from a sea of green, pearls dangling delicately on her heavy figure. ‘’Let them’’ she repeated, eyes darting from Tuktirey to the other children, and then to her mates, ‘’they come from a place of war, ‘wari. That is no place for children to live’’

‘’___’’ Ronal snapped her head towards her wife, tail lashing in anticipation ‘’you do not mean that, look at them. Demons’’. The mentioned woman’s ears lowered and she frowned, opening her mouth to remind her partners of where she came from, where her sons came from, but instead of any words coming out, only a puff of air escaped.

She closed her eyes and huffed, opening them once again and looking up, yellow clashing with blue. ___ stared intently into Ronal’s eyes, hoping to convey the message she so wishes to speak aloud. Luckily, the pair have known each other long enough to be able to understand one another without words, they say that the eyes are the window to the soul.

Ronal conducted a slow blink and pursed her lips, nodding her head, partly in concern to what the future may hold if she let these outsiders in her home. ‘’It is decided’’ Tonowari began, turning to face the crowd and raising his arms to gain the attention of the Metkayina ‘’Toruk Makto and his family will stay, treat them as your brothers and sisters for they do not know the sea, they will be like babies taking their first breath’’

At that Neytiri looked towards the sand, a sudden memory popping into her mind, her ears lowered and frowned, only straightening up when feeling the hand on her shoulder being squeezed. Kiri noted the sudden tenseness in her mother’s posture as soon as this third mate of the chief appeared in front of them, she was as blue and as slim as them, same tail and large ears. The girl recognised the familiar beads and weaving patterns on her clothes, despite the difference in material, this stranger was from the Omaticaya clan.

‘’Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless’’ the large man huffed, turning to make heavy eye contact with Jake, the rider of shadow dropping his youngest onto the ground and smiling in gratitude, patting Tuktirey on her back.

‘’Well what do we say guys? Irayo’’ The Sully’s coreoused, some more enthusiastic than others, Kiri rolling her eyes and sighing. Her father straightened up from his slight kneeling position for his daughter and nodded his head to his new chief, then turning his head to acknowledge his wives with a swallow, afraid of the Tsahik’s each for entirely different reasons.

___’s breath hitched when yellow clashed together, tail curling upright in anticipation, her old mate then nodded to her like he did her husband out of politeness and notably swallowed, averting his eyes back onto the sand, afraid that if he were to look into her eyes any longer he’ll get swallowed into a pit of shame, one that he wont ever crawl out of.

‘’My son Ao’nung’’ Tonowari gestured towards one of his boys who decided to show up, mentally going through the scalding he will carry out later ‘’and daughter Tsireya, will show your children what to do’’

Ao’nung’s ears flattened into his skull, not liking the idea of being buddy-buddy with these weirdos ‘’but sempul-‘’ a large blue hand rose infront of the boys face and he immediately paused his speaking in respect.

‘’It is decided’’

That respect was soon lost.

Ao’nung rolled his eyes and glared at the sand beneath his feet, tempted to kick it out off frustration but not wanting to embarrass himself in front of the people. Luckily, Tsireya felt the anger that radiated off of him and decided to speak up, ‘’come, we will show you our village’’ she waved them over in the direction of their new home, once they acquired their things.

This was going to be a long day.